You could say the real gem in Arcade Jewelers was the proprietor herself, Kay Snyder, who passed away recently but leaves pages that can be added to the book of Riverside.
Her business, Arcade Antiques moved from building to building in Riverside and gradually did away with the lovely furniture and lighting that she sold and settled on jewelry. Eventually, her daughter Robin Mooney took over the business, having learned much from her mother about dealing with customers and handling quality merchandise, something Kay strived to have in her stores.
Going into the store was an adventure. While one may have come for one thing, it was easy to walk out with a lovely piece of jewelry highly recommended by Kay. She was a sweet woman, a strong woman and one who knew when to call a spade a dirty shovel.
Her love of the village prompted her to take on the establishment, the Caucus in Riverside and run as a write-in candidate for Riverside village trustee, not an easy task.
It was then people learned how to do a write-in, and they did it so well that Kay Snyder was elected to the village board in 1987. She was a very good trustee and after her four-year term was up she was slated by the Caucus for another term.
She was a generous person and many organizations benefitted from the many items she gave as raffle prizes, which were always sought after. Her generosity extended in other ways as she shared her knowledge of antiques and jewelry and had a popular show on RBTV.
She was named Riverside’s Man of the Year in 1990, the first woman to be so named. Now the title is Person of the Year. Thanks Kay, for breaking ground in another part of Riverside. She attended most of the dinners, as her health permitted, and if she was in town she often gave the honoree a gift. I will always treasure the bracelet I received, and wear it often, particularly at the Person of the Year dinner.
Personally, I have missed Kay since she has been in Florida, and I will miss our talks — the two Nazareth girls reminiscing, sharing opinions and solving local and world problems.
Arcade Antiques is gone now after 40 years, but it leaves many memories and a legacy continued by Robin Mooney, who learned from the best.
Kay Snyder was a jewel herself, a real treasure not to be forgotten.
