Lila Snow, a noted local artist and television host, died on July 13. She was the wife of George Snow, a UMD professor of high energy physics from 1958 to 1992.
Lila, a native New Yorker, earned a degree in chemistry from Brooklyn College and studied art at the Corcoran School, American University and the University of Maryland.
In 1972, Lila and George co-taught the first Women’s Studies course on this campus. After her husband’s death in 2000, Lila established the George A. Snow Memorial Award, to acknowledge the paucity of women in the field of physics and encourage greater participation. The award has highlighted exceptional efforts within the department, including outreach, mentoring and innovation.
In 2016, Lila donated two original artworks, Particle Picture and Scienza, for display near the high energy group’s offices in the Physical Sciences Complex.
Other creations grace the permanent collections of Radford University, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American University Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Judaica, as well as locations in Argentina, Italy and Japan.
She hosted The Art Scene on Montgomery Municipal Cable Television for two decades.
The sculpture Bradford near the UMD chemistry building, created by Lila Katzen, was donated to the UMD campus by George and Lila Snow.
In addition to art, Lila was interested in languages, and studied in Geneva, Paris, Rome, Bologna and Sendai. As a child, she was a double dutch jump rope champion; as an adult, a standup comedian at varied venues including physics conferences, nightclubs and the National Museum of Women in the Arts. She penned a memoir, With A Name Like Tuchmacher..., and in 2003 received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Brooklyn College.
Lila is survived by Zachary Snow, of Rhinebeck, N.Y.; Andrew Snow of Chevy Chase, and Sara Snow of Vancouver, British Columbia; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Gifts in support of Washington artists can be made in her memory to the American University Museum. Please note “In memory of Lila Snow” in the correspondence.
