Hillary
Snare's eyes
fill with
tears as she
describes
her
relationship
with her
father,
David.
"I'm one of
the luckiest
people in
the world
because I've
had
wonderful
parents my
entire life.
My dad never
missed a
parent/teacher
conference
or band
recital. He
would give
my brother
and me the
last dollar
in his
pocket if we
needed it. I
never
doubted for
one second
that I could
count on
him."
Sadly, this
dedicated
family man
spent more
of his
teenage
years away
from his
family than
with them.
David's
father was
hospitalized
off and on
for years.
Since their
father could
not
continuously
support the
family,
employees
from
Schenectady
County's
welfare
department
separated
David and
six of his
siblings by
placing them
in foster
homes.
Feeling
neglected by
foster
parents who
were rarely
home, David
left without
permission.
Welfare
department
staff
brought
David to the
Children's
Home, then
on State
Street. Now
71, David
fondly
recalls
being
selected
back in
1955 to lay
the
cornerstone
of a brand
new
Children's
Home on Park
Avenue,
where he
lived until
he graduated
high school
at 18.
"While I
missed my
family, I
liked living
at the
Children's
Home. The
staff was
very caring
and kind. We
kept our
rooms clean
and tried
not to fight
with the
other
children. I
worked in
the kitchen
preparing
food and
washing pots
and pans. I
loved the
gym and
playing on a
basketball
team called
the Black
Hawks. We
also enjoyed
playing
baseball
with our
neighbors on
the
Children's
Home's
baseball
field and
our free
memberships
at the
YMCA."
David
continued to
work as a
dishwasher
at night
after
graduating
from high
school. He
spent nearly
25 years in
the National
Guard and 25
years as a
mechanic for
Sears Auto
Center in
Colonie
Center.
At 29 David
met his wife
Brenda, and
the couple
has been
married for
44 years.
They have
stepped in
to take care
of their
niece and
nephew when
needed.
David and
Brenda also
fostered a
troubled
teenage
girl.
"I know what
it's like to
be taken
from my
family, and
I wanted to
help."
David's
daughter
Hillary, a
foster care
prevention
caseworker
for
Community
Maternity
Services in
Albany,
followed her
parents'
example by
serving
children in
need. "My
parents
taught me
how to love,
so I give
love back to
others."
In April
David and
Hillary were
delighted to
visit with
youth from
Northeast
Parent &
Child
Society's
newest
Children's
Home, opened
in 2009.
David
shared
lessons from
his youth
that
provided the
foundation
for his own
life: "Stay
in school,
respect your
elders and
each other,
explore
spiritualism,
have a good
work ethic,
and take
care of your
family."
