Michael Snyder

Michael James Snyder was born February 24, 1950, and grew up in Yakima, Washington, where family, the outdoors, and community shaped his life. The oldest of three brothers, he spent childhood summers fishing and boating with his family and worked in the family bakery, learning a strong work ethic early on. He graduated from Eisenhower High School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puget Sound.

Mike’s career in the restaurant business began in the local community and grew into a broader entrepreneurial journey. In 1979 he and his brothers became the first franchisees of Red Robin, opening the company’s first franchised locations and later expanding to multiple restaurants across Washington, Idaho, and Colorado. Through years of hands-on work and strategic leadership, Snyder rose to executive roles with the company, serving as president, CEO, and chairman after a merger of his franchise company with the parent corporation. Under his guidance the brand grew significantly and eventually became a publicly traded company.

Beyond business, family and simple pleasures mattered most to Mike. He married, raised a son, and was a grandfather who delighted in spending time with his grandchildren. He loved the sea, long days fishing in Alaska, and the daily routines that kept him close to family life — from driving around to visit grandchildren to time spent with his dogs. Friends and colleagues remembered him as someone who mentored young entrepreneurs and carried a sense of humor and generosity in his relationships. He was also known for charitable giving and support of local causes.

Michael Snyder’s death on December 2, 2018, was a deep loss to his family and the Yakima community. Those public facts about his passing are part of the record, but they do not define the full life he lived: a life shaped by family devotion, a love of the outdoors, a commitment to community, and decades of building a business that employed and served many. In remembering Michael, one honors the personal warmth, entrepreneurial drive, and everyday kindness that family and friends recall.