Garden, Graduation Award Dedicated To Carol Lazar Snyder

Family and friends of Carol Lazar Snyder recently gathered at the Robert R. Lazar Middle School in Montville to celebrate the dedication of the Carol Lazar Snyder Memorial Garden. In addition, Snyder’s family and friends had an opportunity to view books donated to the school in her name, and to learn of the Carol Lazar Snyder Award, which will be given at graduation to a Lazar eighth grader who displays kindness and generosity.

Though related, many of the family members in attendance had not had an opportunity before the May 22 dedication to see each other in more than 20 years.

“Just watching all of you come together for the first time in twenty years is incredible,” said Lazar Principal Sharon Carr.

Snyder, whose maiden name was Lazar, was the daughter of the middle school’s namesake, Robert R. Lazar.

Though Snyder was born in Montclair in 1951 and passed away at the age of 62 in Texas, the building that now bears her father’s name holds significant meaning for the Lazar and Snyder families. Stories of a childhood spent visiting Montville, and what was then, Central School, with her dad are part of the family history Snyder shared with her own children. The fact that Central School was renamed Robert R. Lazar Middle School and dedicated to her father, has been a source of family pride for Snyder and her relatives.

“I didn’t know my grandfather personally,” said Snyder’s daughter, Kelly Hanna, in an e-mail to Carr. “He passed away when I was young. My mom talked so fondly of him.”

Despite a move to Texas, Snyder’s connection to the school where her father served as principal, and later administrator, never diminished. His passion for education and his dedication to students is legendary among all who knew him. It was that connection which inspired Snyder’s husband and children to ask that donations be given to the Robert R. Lazar Middle School in honor of Snyder.

Since August 2014, more than $2,000 has been donated in Snyder’s name. Her family made a trip to the Montville school last September.

It was at that time they learned that one of the school’s garden classrooms was not being fully utilized because of a lack of furniture and design.

John Piselli, a Lazar Assistant Principal, attended Montville Township Public Schools. He said that ever since he was in seventh grade he had “wanted the courtyard to be vital.”

Since the Snyder donations were received, benches have been purchased and the pond and plantings have been reinvigorated.

“Our students now have place with abundant life, a place of inspiration,” Piselli said. “This courtyard has exploded with students. This is an outdoor classroom that is being used.”

“I want to thank the Snyder family for allowing us to build a better school,” Piselli added. “We’re so proud to honor your family, and to join your family again with our family.”

Assistant Principal Teri Haight also thanked the family for making it possible to create the Carol Lazar Snyder Award.

“There are generations of kindness from your family that are continuing to move us forward,” Haight said.

In addition to benches and landscaping, the Snyder gifts also purchased several books for the Lazar library.

“Through the generous gift of books bestowed upon our library, Carol Snyder’s family has endeavored to share her love of reading with our students, and has given them continued opportunities to view aspects of the world that might differ from their own,” said Lazar Media Specialist Suzanne Metz. “These interactions with well written books will help our students make sense of the world, eventually becoming healthy, informed, knowledgeable, caring and questioning individuals, as well as friends, partners, and future leaders.”

Eighth grade Peer Leaders, Lainie Weiss, Samantha Shalongo, Alexis Cocchio and Julia Rossinow, along with School Counselor, Susan Rappaport told of teaching other students about Robert R. Lazar, the man.

In Lazar Middle School, Peer Leaders teach other students character education courses for two years while attending the school. The current Peer Leaders helped develop a Robert R. Lazar curriculum that answered the basic question: “What does it take to have a building named after you?”

“This was my favorite lesson,” said Weiss. “With the Robert R. Lazar lesson, everyone was involved.”

During the lesson, the Peer Leaders asked the students, “If you could ask Mr. Lazar one question, what would it be?” That list of questions was presented to Snyder and Lazar family and friends in the hopes that answers to could be determined. Next year those details will become part of the Peer Leaders curriculum.

“Please share with everyone how proud my mom was of the school and what it stands for,” Hanna wrote in her e-mail. “My mom had an amazing gift for sharing with others, and we are happy that people will remember her in this way. We sincerely thank you.”

Following the ceremony, family and friends spent time with Lazar students in the Carol Lazar Snyder Memorial Garden and the Lazar Library.