Katrina's Lives Lost:	Cynthia Snowden, 1958-2005
Submitted By: 		N.O.V.A November 2005
Source:			Times Picayune 11-08-2005

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Cynthia Marie Snowden faced many challenges in her life, but even with her
disabilities, she was a vibrant person who always helped others.

"She knew what it was like to have no help. If she could help, she was
there," said her sister, Julia Snowden of Albuquerque, N.M.

Her aunt, Alta Maynard of Gretna, said she always thought of Cynthia as a
sweet-natured girl who "just really liked people a lot, and most people
responded."

"She could talk your arm off," Maynard said.

Cynthia Snowden was born and raised in the Upper 9th Ward. She was mildly
mentally disabled but grew up to become an independent and outgoing adult.

"She was very adventurous, even though she had limitations," said her
sister. When a friend took her sailing and got sick, Snowden ended up
sailing the boat. She loved fishing, movies, shopping and adding to her key
chain collection.

"Oh, that key chain collection!" her sister said. "She had them from all
over the world."

To Guy Lillian, Snowden was "kind of like a kid sister." They met when they
both lived in the same apartment building. "She was a diabetic and needed
friends. What she gave in return was absolute loyalty and devotion that was
just inspiring," he said.

Lillian often gave Snowden rides when she needed them, including several
trips to the hospital necessitated by her diabetes.

Snowden once chased a youngster trying to steal Lillian's car, and then
gave testimony in court against the boy. The judge called her a good
neighbor, a good friend and a good citizen.

Another time at Tulane and Broad, "They happened to be filming (the movie)
'JFK' at the time, and she was looking at the movie stars," said Lillian, a
lawyer who practices criminal law.

"She went and hugged Sissy Spacek," he remembered. "She's looking at Kevin
Costner, and she said, 'Hey, he's good looking. Introduce me.' "

Snowden lived for many years with an elderly friend whom she assisted.
After the woman died, Cynthia lived in several places. "I offered to
support her and have her live with me in Albuquerque, but she loved New
Orleans so much she wouldn't leave," Julia Snowden said.

"Twice in the last few years, we threw her in the back of our car and we
fled from hurricanes," Lillian said. Then he and his wife moved to
Shreveport.

"Cindy had moved into Raphael Manor, this three-story, solid facility for
old folks and the infirm. Cindy felt safe there," he said. "She told me
that they had a bus they would use to get them out of there if there was a
hurricane, so I wasn't particularly worried until Katrina came along."

But there was no bus.

"We didn't have much notice at all, and I'm stuck up here," Lillian said
from Shreveport. When he called her shortly after the hurricane, she
"sounded fine, very perky, and said she and other residents will get
through this together."

Cynthia Snowden, who was 46, died sometime after her last medical log
entry, which was Sept. 1.

"I think it was the stress and anxiety," Lillian said. "She had a lot of
candy, and she ate a lot of it and laid down and went to sleep. It was a
peaceful way to go."