Little Falls, NY – Gerard J. Snyder, a lifelong Upstate New Yorker and Dolgeville attorney, steps into the political arena in a revealing episode of the Small Town Life podcast, hosted by Dave Warner on the Studio 25 Podcast Network.
Running as a Democrat for New York State Supreme Court Justice in the expansive 5th Judicial District, Snyder shares his improbable journey from family golf to small-town legal mainstay.
Born May 5, 1956, in Troy as the youngest of six, Snyder grew up amid a golf-obsessed clan. An older brother went pro, a sister claimed club championships, and siblings dominated local tournaments so thoroughly that neighbors hoped they’d relocate. “They would win all the time,” Snyder laughs, recalling the intimidation that pushed him away from the fairways. Instead, he idolized brother Donald, a West Winfield lawyer, envisioning a “big fish in a small pond” life over big-city bustle.
After Law School, Snyder arrived in Dolgeville in 1981 for a cousin’s wedding – only to learn he’d flunked the bar exam. “I knew I was in trouble,” he admits, blaming a prep course’s dud predictions. Retaking with a broader study, he passed and joined the late Charlie Sullivan’s firm, specializing in estate planning and real estate.
Early years included pro bono stints as assigned counsel and law guardian in family and criminal courts.
Snyder mediates feuding families in estates, including a rare will contest that escalated to the Supreme Court over banking rules and elder abuse suspicions – a win for his side under Judges Crandall and Merrill. Recent real estate closings include Wintergreen Island, a Thousand Islands gem with five homes, and the historic Overlook Mansion in Little Falls for the same clients, who also own Dolgeville’s Daniel Green complex, powered by a profitable hydroelectric plant.
Politics? A total surprise. Nudged by niece Betsy Snyder at the August convention, the “placeholder” slot became a real race. “I practice quietly… this has thrust me into the limelight,” Snyder says.
Catch Snyder’s full interview with family lore, legal twists, and election insights – on Small Town Life. Stream it on YouTube, watch below, or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Just search for the Studio 25 Podcast Network.