James Preminger

James was born in Queens, NY on September 17, 1961. He grew up in Phoenix, AZ, where he graduated high school and competed as a gymnast on the pommel horse. In 1985, James joined the US Army, serving in Germany in the Public Affairs Office. After Army service, in 1989, he continued developing photography skills for photojournalism and later transitioned into also writing the news.                      

In 2006, James earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. After returning to journalism for a short time, he served as a public information officer for a school district. With a love for writing and history, he then worked to pass on those passions as a high school teacher. James’s life-long passions were typewriters, railroads, trains, Americana, and animals.                                                                                              

James met Nicole in 2002 when they both served on the staff of a local newspaper. They were together for 22 years and married on August 2, 2023.   Diagnosed in 2021, he finally lost his battle with cancer on April 27, 2024                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

James is survived by his loving wife, Nicole Baker; his mother, Phyllis Snyder; his sister, Lisa Solares and her husband Mike Doss; Nick Grothe and his wife Michelle Grothe; Danial Solares, Ian Solares and Sarah Solares.

James is preceded in death by his father, James Willliam Snyder Jr. and his father’s wife Pat Snyder.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at 10:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1221 E 20th St, Farmington, NM 87401.

James family thanks you for your kindness throughout his illness and appreciates your comforting presence with them today. They invite you to a reception featuring James’s favorite foods, immediately following the service.