Jerome “Jerry” Schnydman, alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University Class of 1967, admired lacrosse legend, and beloved fixture on campus, passed away Monday, October 25. He was 77.
Schnydman spent the better part of 50 years at Johns Hopkins, from his days as a student-athlete, to his work in undergraduate admissions, alumni relations, and finally the president’s office—where he served as executive assistant to the president and secretary of the board of trustees from 1998 until his retirement in 2012.
A Baltimore native and graduate of Baltimore City College High School, Schnydman arrived to JHU as an undergraduate student and star lacrosse player in 1963. He was selected as a first-team All-American in 1966 and 1967, and is considered one of the top faceoff specialists in the sport’s history. Schnydman served as co-captain of the Blue Jays and led the team to win the national championship in 1967. He was inducted into the Johns Hopkins Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998, and was also a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and the halls of fame for the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the Lacrosse Foundation and Baltimore City College High School.
In honor of Schnydman’s retirement from JHU in 2012, the atrium of the Brody Learning Commons—named for former JHU President William R. Brody, for whom Schnydman served as executive assistant for a decade—was renamed the Schnydman Atrium.
The Hopkins legend has been called “energetic… funny… incredibly thoughtful and caring,” and will be remembered for “his sense of humor, his kindness, and his convivial nature.” He was known to “tell wonderful, colorful Hopkins stories, non-stop… all with great humor and a glint in his eye.” Schnydman is survived by his wife of 54 years, Tammy, son Andy, daughter Becky, and four grandchildren. A funeral service will be held Thursday, Oct. 28, beginning at 11 a.m. at Beth El Congregation in Baltimore.
Please, take this opportunity to make your own impact in Jerry’s honor and empower future change-makers and trailblazers at Johns Hopkins.