William Snow

Billy Snow loved his teams. He believed the right team could do almost anything. He lettered in four sports at Frankford High School before graduating in 1963. He loved the Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, Eagles and the Union (and also the Fever. . . and Celtic FC), but he really loved his teams at Little Club, Lighthouse, Simpson, Piccoli, Juniata, Kensington, every team any of “his” kids were ever on, and definitely Old Penn Charter. Born William James Snow on September 17, 1944 in the city he called home for 81 years, he fought in The Vietnam War with the US Army and travelled just enough to be sure Philadelphia was the only place he needed. He fought fires with the Philadelphia Fire Department, mostly in Chinatown with Engine 20, Ladder 23, The House of the Dragon. He also fought to bring out the best in everyone on so many fields, with so many teams. A member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame and Philadelphia’s Oldtimers Soccer Association, he was a collegiate, high school and, most-beloved, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer referee. Bill lived his life like he refereed games, always right where he was needed, trying to help, but stay out of the way. He coached soccer, baseball and basketball at several Philadelphia clubs (mostly Simpson) and at The William Penn Charter School. His favorite team, which he is survived by, was his wife Deborah (Romanczuk), daughter Jessica, son Jonathan, daughter-in-law Sharon (Bekarciak) and grandson Christopher. Bill Snow passed away peacefully at his home with his wife by his side on the afternoon of January 8, 2026. He is also survived by his beloved sisters Janet Draper (Marietta, GA) and Joyce Kraher (Port Orange, FL), super nephew Ed Kraher (Cindy), many sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, many more nieces and nephews (and their growing teams of their own), and Eddie’s daughter, his first great-niece, Josie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeanette Robinson Wylie Snow and William Michael Snow, his mother-in-law Josephine O’Neill Romanczuk, father-in-law Alexander Romanczuk (all of Phila, PA), his brother-in-law Edward Draper and so many friends from all of the teams throughout his life.

Services and Interment were held privately.