LeRoy J. Snook

On December 17, 2025, LeRoy Snook missed meeting his golf group at the Elmwood
Golf Course when he passed away unexpectedly at home getting ready for his tee time.
Born on February 11, 1941, in Pueblo, Colo., to Roy and Georgia Snook, he attended
Hinsdale Elementary, Freed Junior High, and Centennial before its closing. He finished high
school at East High School and graduated in 1960. Throughout his school years, LeRoy
excelled in a variety of sports and earned numerous awards in swimming, track, football, and
basketball. He was a three-sport star at East and set track records that lasted many years. He
was also the first East athlete to qualify for state in track.
LeRoy found sports to be challenging and saw them as important for a person to
become a team player, competitor and strong individual both on the field, court and life. He
served as a high school basketball and football official for almost 27 years, officiated all
classification championship games around the state, and officiated college basketball for the
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference during playoff games. As a member of the Colorado
Football Officials Association, he officiated football games from 1971-1998 and was recognized
for his excellent work officiating championship games from eight-man to 6A. He officiated 6A
state championships twice and numerous Pueblo Bell and Cannon games. He was inducted into
the Colorado Officials Hall of Fame for basketball in 1990 and for football in 2002.
He coached the girls basketball team at Pitts Middle School for two years. In 2023 he
was inducted in the Greater Pueblo Sports Association Hall of Fame. For many years, LeRoy
served as a source for interpreting the rules and regulations for both basketball and football. He
received awards for playing on city slowpitch and basketball teams, and he played for numerous
teams in city basketball leagues and tournaments.
After high school, he held various jobs, and in 1964 he graduated to become a clinical
therapist and psychiatric technician at the Colorado State Hospital. He later transferred to the
recreational center and served as a recreational therapist where he taught lifeguarding,
swimming, bowling and boat safety. In 1990, he took a promotion and transferred to the
Colorado Department of Corrections in Canon City, retiring in 1996 as a Lieutenant of
Recreational Therapy. After retiring, he returned to work part-time as a recreational therapist at
the Colorado Mental Health Institute Pueblo. For more than 50 years he displayed a
commitment to athletic/recreational excellence throughout the state and in the Pueblo
community.
He served in the U.S. Army National Guard as an artillery specialist for six years and
was honorably discharged in 1966. He was a 43-year member of the Pueblo Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 90.
In his later years, LeRoy enjoyed numerous golf trips and vacations in Mexico with
friends and family.
Over the years, LeRoy won respect through his low-key, flexible communication style.
He shared a sense of humor and people skills to serve hundreds of inmates and patients at one
time in the sports arena, which is often emotional and tension filled. He had the ability to make a
very difficult job look easy. His former colleagues and athletes will remember his respect for the
game and for the players.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Louise; in-laws; stepson Darren
Capanna; grandson Beau Massey; and numerous family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 47 years, Paula Snook, of the home; daughters
Jamie (Gary) West, Deneen Massey, and Kacey Capanna, and stepson Perry Capanna, all of
Pueblo; grandchildren Lindsey, Kyle, Kira, Colin, and Colby, and Jennifer; and five great-
grandchildren with a sixth arriving in July, and other nieces, nephews and family members.
At his request, LeRoy was cremated. A celebration of life will be held from 12-3 p.m.on
February 15, 2026, at the Elmwood Golf Course, 3900 Thatcher Ave. in Pueblo.
Memorials may be given to a charity of choice.