WILMA COWLES died Dec. 8, 2007 in Miami, after a lengthy illness. Wilma Cowles started what is now the Pineapple Playhouse in 1949 under the auspices of the Woman's Club of Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County's oldest civic and cultural organization. Under that sponsorship, the organization, called The Dolphin Players, flourished for several years, performing at the Woman's Club, at Fort Pierce Elementary School, and various other locations. Eventually, expenses overtook revenue and the theatre suspended operations for a time, but after a short hiatus the hard core of would-be thespians regrouped as The Fort Pierce Little Theatre and was in business again. In 1973 we re-incorporated as Saint Lucie Community Theatre. We christened McAlpin Fine Arts Center at IRCC with our production of "Bell, Book and Candle," the College's own schedule forced us out--a blessing in disguise for it forced us into seeking a permanent home of our own. Pineapple Playhouse at 700 W. Weatherbee Road is that place we are proud to call home. Wilma Cowles family requested donations be made to the Pineapple Playhouse in lieu of flowers. No date has been set for services at this time.


CAPT. ADAM SNYDER died Dec. 5, 2007, in a combat hospital in Balad, Iraq. He was 26. He was born and raised in Fort Pierce where he graduated in 2000 from Lincoln Park Academy. Adam was a member of St. Lucie Community Theatre, Pineapple Playhouse summer camps, and appeared on the Pineapple stage in "Life With Father" in 1997. He was active in the youth group at Westside Baptist Church and had a major role in Port St. Lucie High's production of "The Music Man." In 2004 he graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he majored in Arabic and Middle Eastern history. As a member of the West Point Glee Club, Adam sang at Carnegie Hall and at Ground Zero, and he took part when the Glee Club recorded a song for the movie "We Were Soldiers." In 2005, at Fort Benning, GA, he graduated from Ranger School and from Airborne School. He was currently stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, and served 12 months in Iraq in 2005-06. In July 2007 he was promoted to Captain and returned to Iraq in September ready to serve a 15-month tour of duty. Capt. Snyder was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, Tiger Platoon. Adam is survived by his younger brother, Evan Frazer also a past Theatre camper, his mother and stepdad, Fran and Larry Frazer, all of Fort Pierce; and by his father and stepmom, Joseph and Cathy Snyder of Vero Beach. Visitation will be Thursday, Dec. 13, 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Westside Baptist Church, 3361 S. Jenkins Rd., Fort Pierce. A memorial service will be held Friday, Dec. 14, 11 AM at the Church, reception to follow. Arrangements are by Haisley Funeral & Cremation Service at 772.461.5211. Memorial contributions in Adam's memory may be made to Compassion International, 12290 Voyager Pkwy., Colorado Springs, CO 80921. In addition, the Capt. Adam Snyder Memorial Scholarship has been established at Indian River Community College (IRCC). Contributions may be mailed and made payable to the IRCC Foundation, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Ft. Pierce, FL 34981. Contact Julaine Ivy at IRCC for more information: 772.462.7856.