John Snow

John Leslie Snow left this world unexpectedly on Tuesday, November 11th, at the age of 78, slipping gently from a life he had filled with quiet devotion, hard work, humor, and a deep love for the natural world.

Born in Lynn, MA, in 1947 and raised in Salem, NH, he was the son of the late Leslie F. and Arline (Spires) Snow. John’s earliest years were shaped by Catholic school, humble beginnings, and the steady work of a young man helping in a poultry operation. He later attended Keene State College and devoted 50 years of his life to serving the people of Keene as a letter carrier — a familiar, beloved figure who walked his route with the easy grace of someone who knew every doorstep, every face, and every story. To many, he was affectionately known as “the good-looking mailman,” a title he carried with a shy smile and quiet humility.

John married Nancy (Buffum) O'Brien in 1975, and together they raised two children in rural, wooded places where homegrown food and simple living were not trends but truths. He tended chickens, and other livestock, gardens, and land with the care of someone who understood that life reveals itself best in what grows slowly.

After their divorce, John married Toni (Tracey) Alderi. Toni brought her son, Travis, close in age to Matthew, and from this first blended family blossomed a lifelong friendship between the two boys — a bond that endured through the shifting years of adulthood.

Later, John shared two decades of marriage with Robin (Wesley) Snow, raising her sons, Nick and Nathan, in the home they built together in Swanzey. There, on a small plot of Earth he nurtured like a sanctuary, John created a haven for birds, pollinators, wildlife, and especially the dogs who were his daily companions and constant joy.

He loved the land — not in an abstract way, but tangibly, reverently. His gardens bloomed under his hands, his feeders welcomed countless birds, and in his later years he found childlike wonder in the Merlin app, thrilled that he could finally identify the songs that had serenaded him for decades. He shared this passion freely: with his nephew David, with friends, and especially with his daughter, who carries forward his instinctive understanding that to tend the earth is to tend the soul.

And woven through his life was a deep love of music. Whether the thrum of rock and roll, the soulful sway of reggae, or the sweeping beauty of classical pieces, music moved him — lifted him, grounded him, and accompanied him through work, through quiet moments, and through the rhythm of his days.

John was a sports fan, a croquet player, a union man who believed fiercely in fairness and dignity, and a friend to anyone who crossed his path. His humor was gentle, his heart generous, and his willingness to help others came as naturally to him as breathing. A lifelong learner, he pursued knowledge and understanding of all things through reading and hands on application.

He will be missed by many — neighbors, friends, family, and the countless people of Keene who came to know him simply through a daily exchange of mail and kindness. But most of all, he will be missed by his loyal pups, who loved their walks along the rail trail, where the trees whispered and the birds sang — his kind of paradise.

He is survived by his daughter Gretchen Snow and her partner Scott Pratt of Swanzey, NH; son Matt Snow and his wife Becky of Swanzey, NH; sister Elaine SnowWhiten and her husband Jerome of Methuen, MA; sister-in-law Nancy Snow of Greenville, SC; grandchildren Severin Keeley of Keene, NH, Adley Snow-Fox of Swanzey, NH, Abby Latique and her husband Preston of Gardener, MA, Phoebe Snow of Swanzey, NH, Oliver Snow of Swanzey, NH, Bianca Dennis and her partner Connor Gatlin of Alstead, NH; great-grandchildren Trinniti Snow-Fox, Castiel Snow-Fox, Zaydrian Latique; nephews David Nakley of Palm Springs, CA, Mitchell Nakley of Salem, NH, nieces Rayna Merryfield and her husband Eric of Andover, MA, Lori Snow Matlock and her husband Brian of Apache Junction, AZ, Linda Snow-Moors and her husband Tom of Simpsonville, SC; great-nieces and nephews Erica Cameron, Cameron Moors, Addy Moors; his long time housemate Finn Jackson and his beloved dogs, Scarlet and Luna. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his brother Ron Snow of Greenville, SC.

To honor John’s memory, please consider a donation to Galgos del Sol, a dog rescue organization close to his heart.

A visitation will be held from 2PM to 5PM on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at Cheshire Family Funeral Home, 44 Maple Ave, Keene NH.

Services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, Chapel, and Crematories. www.cheshirefamilyfh.com.