BeaconMediaNews.com
JUNE 12, 2014 - june 18, 2014 | 29
Life Remembered Harry Sneider
Harry Sneider’s world record breaking bench press of 450 lbs at age 61!
Harry Sneider was an amazing man,” larger than life”. His life story is one of overcoming. He was always incredibly positive, cheerful, faith filled, an inspiration and encouragement. He was a God centered individual and always trusted God to direct his steps. Most of all he was a CHAMPION PERSON! Touching the lives of many around the world with his positive attitude, he made the world a better place. Coach Sneider was always eager to help others achieve their ultimate human potential. He lived his life to the fullest with integrity, generosity, and an abiding faith in God and a deep conviction to encourage others. To his family and friends he was a larger than life hero and although he will be deeply missed, his smile will live in our hearts forever. His was a life well lived. He was a WINNER! Harry was born in Riga, Latvia on March 19, 1941. When the Russians arrived in 1944 he and his family escaped going through Krakow, Poland, then into Czechoslovakia, and eventually a Displaced Persons camp in Germany. While in Germany he developed osteomyelitis in his leg and almost died at age 6. He basically became handicapped for the rest of his life. In 1949 he and his family came to the United States and settled in Minneapolis, MN. It was there that Harry underwent another surgery, this one requiring a nine-inch plate near his hip joint. Never considering himself “handicapped” he played football throwing better than the pros, softball, basketball, and won racquetball championships. He was a world record holder in the bench
press, pressing 450 lbs at age 61! As a professional fitness trainer he trained many actors including Susan Anton for her role in Golden Girl. He trained and was a good friend with Tony Dow, Wally in “Leave it to Beaver”. Coach Sneider trained many Olympic athletes, including Dwight Stones, 2 time Olympic bronze medalist and 3 time world record holder in the high jump; James Butts, Olympic silver medalist in the triple jump; Mark Gorski, Olympic gold medalist in cycling. Harry was nominated Track and Field Coach for the 1980 Olympics. One of Coach Sneider’s memorable trainees was Bob Wieland, who had had his legs blown off from the hip down while serving in the Vietnam War. Harry completed four marathons with Bob and encouraged Bob on his walk across the United States on his knuckles to The White House. Harry also trained long-time friend Wayne Grimditch, winner of Superstars. Lee Brandon, a graduate of Ambassador College and 2-time World Long Drive Champion was mentored by Harry. As a trainer of champions he was a longtime friend of Jack LaLanne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He developed a revolutionary fitness program and authored the best selling book, Harry and Sarah Sneiders’ Olympic Trainer. He created fitness videos Sneiders 20 Minute Workout DVD and Sneiders Resistive Rebounding DVD helping many thousands to better health around the world. He participated in The Great American Workout at The White House, Washington D.C. in 1992. He went to the Univer-
sity of Minnesota for his A.A. degree. In 1967 he came to California to attend Ambassador College and earned his B.A. degree and eventually his doctorate from Pacific Western University. He was on the faculty at Ambassador College and was Executive Fitness Director until the college closed in 1990. He then along with his wife, Sarah, and son Rob, continued to train Olympians, champion athletes in tennis, track and field, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and more at Sneiders Family Fitness in Arcadia. He was very involved in the Senior Olympics and hosted the annual Senior Games Powerlifting Championships for 21 years. He also trained many families, couples, as well as high school athletes to achieve college scholarships which he continued up until his death. His son Rob and wife Sarah continue the family business. Hundreds of articles were written about Harry, including Sports Illustrated, USA Today, and the L.A. Times. He wrote many articles for the local papers and recently completed a manuscript about his 36 years as trainer and friend to world chess champion Bobby Fischer which is being looked at by a movie producer. He was filmed in the movie Pumping Iron starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and more recently had a major role in the documentary Bobby Fischer Against the World. He is also featured in the TV series The Leading Gen. What will you do with the rest of your life? A recent interview with Neil Earle and Harry Sneider can be viewedat http://www. dctvduarte.com/video_view. php?id=699868. His family was always the center of his world and he leaves behind his loving wife of over 45 years, Sarah, and his three children, Deborah Morris, Karl Sneider and Rob Sneider, son-in-law Tom Morris, daughter-in-law Leticia Sneider, four grandchildren, Madison Morris, Mason Morris, William Sneider and Julian Sneider, his mother Elsa Sneider, brother Karl Peter Sneider, sister Ilse Sneider and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date.
California credit unions show positive gain By SHEL SEGAL
Loan growth at California credit unions for the first quarter 2014 grew at 2.2 percent, marking the first time since 2009 that first-quarter loan growth showed a positive gain, according to a report released recently by the California Credit Union League. In the San Gabriel Valley, total loan growth for the first three months in 2014 was even better at 3.4 percent. Overall, credit unions in the state saw broad growth in their loan portfolios from first quarter 2013 to first quarter 2014. Auto loans led the way with new and used vehicle loan balances growing by 5.8 percent and 2.9 percent, respectively, according to the report. Meanwhile, first mortgages saw a gain of 2.4 percent, second mortgages grew 1.4 percent, and business loans gained 2.6 percent in the first three months of 2014, according to the report. Among San Gabriel Valley credit unions, the picture was rosier with
new and used vehicle loan balances growing by 22.5 percent and 14.6 percent, respectively. First mortgages saw a gain of 2.6 percent while business loans grew 3.9 percent, according to the report. In addition to taking out more loans, credit union members in the state are also saving. Credit union savings balances grew 3.3 percent in the first quarter of 2014 and by 3.5 percent in the year ending March 2014, according to the report. With little change in terms of the historically low interest-rate environment, consumers again remained focused on short-term liquid accounts. In the first quarter, credit union checking account balances grew by 7.7 percent, while regular savings grew by 5.6 percent, money market accounts increased by 2.0 percent, and certificate accounts posted a modest gain of 0.1 percent, according to the report. In the San Gabriel Valley, credit union checking account balances posted a modest 0.1
percent gain however; regular savings grew by 5.9 percent. And money market accounts increased by 5.2 percent, according to the report. “Since the beginning of 2012, the state has added almost one million new nonfarm payroll jobs. The impact of those jobs really started to show up in 2013,” said Dwight Johnston, chief economist for the league. “Since mid2013, California credit unions – including those in the San Gabriel Valley area – have seen loan demand jump as more consumers are back on their feet. We are seeing that especially in the auto loans area particularly. The firstquarter gain this year was particularly noteworthy as the first quarter of any year is typically slow.” In addition, the increase in business loans show demand is increasing in this arena as well, Johnston said. (Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@ beaconmedianews.com. He can be followed via Twitter @segallanded.)
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