Flyers' Ed Snider remembered as a man of passion, wisdom

They came from all over, young and old, rich and poor, and paid tribute to Ed Snider, the man who gambled 50 years ago that Philadelphia would become attracted to hockey.

Snider, the Flyers' chairman and cofounder, died at 83 on April 11 after a two-year battle with bladder cancer, and a celebration of his life was held Thursday afternoon at the Wells Fargo Center, home of the team he loved like one of his six children and 15 grandchildren.

In a heartfelt 1-hour, 50-minute ceremony that included speeches from three of his children, business associates, friends, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Mayor Kenney and former Flyers great Bob Clarke, Snider was remembered as a man of passion and wisdom.

"When I pass and when we all pass, we don't know where we're going," said a tearful Clarke, the Flyers captain when they won Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 and someone who has worked in several capacities with the team. "For me, I really hope when I get there, I get the chance to play one more game in the Orange and Black for Mr. Snider's Philadelphia Flyers."

Jay Snider, Ed's son and a former Flyers president, was choked with emotion as he addressed the crowd.

"The last full sentence he ever spoke was, 'I can't thank the Flyers enough for everything they've given to me and my family,' " Snider said.

Bettman said Snider had some "beautiful homes, but the Wells Fargo Center was the center of where he lived."

Kenney said he learned a Jewish term that he said perfectly described Snider. "He was a mensch - a person of quality and integrity," he said.

"I have always enjoyed everything I do. I'm lucky."

- Ed Snider

Photos of Snider through the years - from infancy, to making a "choke" sign to a referee, to his drinking from the Stanley Cup - were shown during the ceremony, which organizers called a "celebration of his life."

A huge screen displayed the photos, and it was flanked by 1973-74 and 1974-75 Stanley Cup banners on each side. "Ed Snider: A Flyer Forever 1933-2016" read the "crawl" that went around the rink, between the first and second levels.

A short film of Snider's career, narrated by John Boruk of Comcast SportsNet, was shown to a crowd estimated at 3,000. In one interview that was shown, Snider talked about how he took great pride in everything he did, including mopping the floor at his parents' Washington grocery store when he was a youngster.

There was an interview of Flyers captain Claude Giroux, talking about how Snider took him out to lunch and told him he needed to loosen up and have more fun on the ice. What other owner, Giroux wondered, would take time out of his schedule to do something like that?

Lauren Hart sang "God Bless America," and the speakers then took turns sharing stories about Snider. Some were humorous, some were informative, some talked about his philanthropy. All were touching.

Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast Corp., talked about Snider's starting Prism and all-sports WIP radio. "Things that are taken for granted today, all came out of his head. He was a genius," said Roberts, who called Snider a great listener who was "ferociously loyal" and the "perfect partner."

Roberts said Snider would visit his late father, Ralph, when his health was failing. "So this season, I had a chance to try to be there for Ed, at least a little bit."

About 30 seconds after every Flyers victory this season, Roberts said, he would phone Snider at his California home.

"No matter how sick or how much pain Ed was in," Roberts said, "he wanted and needed to talk about the Flyers. Ed lived for those wins. I lived for those calls."

When he concluded his speech, Roberts went back to his days as a young Flyers fan.

"When I was a kid, every game ended - and Ed, I'm thinking of you now - with the great Gene Hart saying, 'Good night and good hockey.' And if I may add, 'Good life,' " Roberts said.

"When you create a company, you create jobs and opportunities for all kind of people and that is a great success."

- Ed Snider

Jack Williams, former Comcast president, said he and Snider would get into some serious business discussion "that could get heated, but after it was over, he would hug me and say, 'I love you.' "

He paused.

"You know what, Ed," Williams told the audience, "I love you, too."

Bettman, who kidded that there were more than 19,000 fans at Flyers home games who "referee every single game here," said Snider had made Philadelphia "one of the most phenomenal hockey cities in the world."

Bettman and Snider became close. Bettman said Snider would sometimes end a conversation by telling him he loved him. "Which is not something a commissioner hears from his bosses."

According to Bettman, Snider was the only owner to ever serve on the league's Competition Committee, "and he had everyone's respect," he said.

Added Bettman: "The fire in his eyes is now an eternal flame."

"Money should be the reward, but not the reason."

- Ed Snider

Drew Katz's father, Lewis, and Snider were best friends. Lewis Katz, co-owner of the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com, died in a plane crash nearly two years ago.

Drew Katz said that Snider was like a "second father" to him and that he could never repay him for the love and support he showed during a trying time.

Katz drew laughter from the crowd when he said Snider had once kicked Donald Trump out of the owner's Wells Fargo Center suite "because he wouldn't stop talking to Ed during the game. No one came between him and his hockey games," Katz said.

He said Snider was as tough as nails on the outside, "but soft as could be on the inside."

Katz said Snider brought hockey into the lives of millions, was a great philanthropist, and "embodies the word legend."

Michael Milken, a cancer survivor who was a friend of Snider's, said Snider underwent many clinical trials in an effort to beat bladder cancer.

"His willingness to try new trials will benefit millions in the future, and it will be a gift to the world," he said.

....Learn from your mistakes and never stop learning."

- Ed Snider

Clarke, the Flyers' senior vice president, asked the team's former players - several dozen attended - to stand and take a bow. He also asked the current players to stand and thanked them for winning Wednesday's playoff game against powerful Washington "for Mr. Snider."

The crowd gave both sets of players a rousing ovation.

The win over the Capitals enabled the Flyers to avoid elimination. They trail in the series, three games to one.

"To the Caps, if you're watching this: We're not done," Jay Snider said.

Clarke talked about how the Flyers were knocked out of a playoff spot when Buffalo's Gerry Meehan scored with four seconds left in the final regular-season game of the 1971-72 season.

Snider went into the locker room after the game and consoled each of his players.

"He said, 'Boys, don't worry about it. We're going to be stronger for it,' " Clarke said. "Two years later, we won the Stanley Cup."

Lindy Snider, one of Snider's daughters, said the death of a parent leaves a "cold empty place," but she told fans that "your tributes have warmed us."

The ceremony ended with Jacob Snider, Ed's grandson, singing a moving rendition of "What a Wonderful Life."

"Take what you do well and grow it."

- Ed Snider