James Edward Snook

James Edward Snook, 78, of Escondido, California, passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023 at home.  He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, youngest son of the late Joseph A. and late Mary R. (Wirtz) Snook, formerly of Kutztown and Wyomissing, PA.  Jim was preceded by his older brother, the late Joseph A. Snook, Jr., who died in 2016.

Jim was a graduate of Kutztown High School and was inducted into their Athletic Hall of Fame, helping the Cougars win three straight Berks County Conference championships from 1961 - 1963 and District 3 titles in 1961 and 1963.  He finished with 1,434 points, third in school history.  Named All-Berks three times and All-State twice, he was inducted into the Berks County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

Jim was on the 1965 - 1966 Naval Academy basketball team and was high scorer for the plebes with a 23.2 average, one of the best ever compiled by a first-year midshipman.  Jim set a plebe single-game scoring record with 45 points, hit in double figures in every game and topped the 25 mark in five different contests. 

Jim graduated from Temple University in 1969.  He was a starting player on the men’s basketball team and helped the Owls win the 1969 NIT Championship.  In 2011 he was inducted into Temple University’s Basketball Hall of Fame.  

Jim’s career started as a general manager of Imperial Fabrics for manufactured housing and in his later years became a realtor and financial advisor.  Jim loved the ocean and was an avid sailboat sportsman.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Buie, two step-children, Robert and Kristina, two daughters, Kelly and Kathleen, Wyomissing, sons-in-law John Masano and Eric Schippers, and six grandchildren, Johnny, Megan, Kathryn, Noah, Aiden and Kalia.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: act.alz.org

Services private; interment at Hope Cemetery, Kutztown.

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