Introduction

As the world mourns the death of legendary architect Frank O. Gehry, attention has turned not only to his iconic buildings but also to the people who shaped his early life. Among them is Anita Snyder — Gehry’s first wife, long before global fame, museum openings, and architectural revolutions.

Gehry passed away on December 5, 2025, at his Los Angeles home after a brief respiratory illness. As tributes pour in, many are revisiting the story of the woman who stood beside him during the formative years of his career, the woman who encouraged him, challenged him, and ultimately influenced one of the most defining decisions of his life: changing his name from Frank Owen Goldberg to Frank Gehry.

Today, renewed interest in Gehry’s family history has pushed Anita Snyder back into the public conversation — not as a footnote, but as a key figure in the architect’s earliest chapter.

Early Life & Childhood

Very little public information exists about Anita Snyder’s childhood, largely because she lived a private life long before and after her marriage to Frank Gehry. What is known is that she came from a family in Los Angeles, where Gehry met her in the early 1950s while working a furniture-delivery job. He delivered furniture to her parents’ home — and that encounter would change the trajectory of his life.

Family Background, Parents & Siblings

Anita came from a modest, middle-class household. Her parents, whose names remain private, offered a stable environment where Gehry felt welcome. Snyder’s family reportedly supported the couple in their early financial struggles, with Anita often taking on work to help sustain Gehry’s education and early career ambitions.

While no widely recorded information exists about Anita’s siblings, several accounts suggest she grew up in a close, supportive family — something Gehry found comforting during a period of uncertainty and cultural displacement.

Education

Anita Snyder was known to be well-educated and disciplined. While public records do not detail her academic institutions, Gehry often acknowledged that Anita’s steady work ethic and financial discipline were instrumental in helping him complete his education at the University of Southern California and later at the University of California, where he studied ceramics before turning to architecture.

Career or Profession

Snyder was not a public figure, but her behind-the-scenes contributions were significant. She worked consistently during their marriage, using her income to help Gehry fund his early studies and career shifts.

Her practicality balanced Gehry’s uncertainty during the early stages of his journey. She became not only his partner but also a source of financial and emotional stability — a role often overshadowed by Gehry’s later acclaim.

Connection to the Celebrity

Frank Gehry and Anita Snyder married in 1952. Their marriage lasted 14 years, ending in divorce in 1966.

During this period:

She convinced him to change his name

Perhaps Anita Snyder’s most documented influence on Gehry was her encouragement that he change his last name from Goldberg to Gehry.
She believed a less Jewish-sounding name would shield him from the anti-Semitism he encountered in school and early career environments.

Gehry later admitted that he regretted the change, but he acknowledged that the pressure he felt — and the cultural climate of the time — made it a decision he felt he had to make.

She helped him through discrimination

Gehry once recalled being rejected from an architectural fraternity “because I was a Jew.” Snyder watched closely as these experiences took a toll on him and encouraged him to pursue a path that would remove unnecessary barriers.

She helped fund his education

Anita reportedly used her earnings to help Gehry pay for classes as he transitioned from ceramics to architecture — a shift that would define his entire legacy.

Their daughters

The couple welcomed two daughters:

• Brina Gehry

• Leslie Gehry Brenner, who sadly passed in 2008 from uterine cancer.

Gehry remained close to his daughters throughout his life, and Anita continued to be part of their private family world even after their divorce.

Personal Life / Relationships

Anita Snyder and Frank Gehry ultimately divorced in 1966, with Gehry later suggesting that the pressures of his work and the overwhelming demands of his early architectural career strained their marriage.
He once admitted that his commitment to his business “took over his family life.”

Nearly a decade later, in 1975, Gehry married Berta Isabel Aguilera, who became his wife for almost 50 years. They had two sons together — Alejandro Gehry and Samuel Gehry.

Despite moving on, Gehry often spoke with respect about the role Anita Snyder played in his early life.

Net Worth

Because Anita Snyder lived privately and outside public records, her personal net worth is unknown. Her former husband, Frank Gehry, however, had an estimated net worth in the tens of millions due to his architectural work, museum designs, and international commissions.

Interesting Facts

1. Anita Snyder met Frank Gehry through a furniture delivery.
2. She helped fund his education at UC while he shifted fields.
3. She encouraged Gehry to adopt the name “Gehry” in 1954.
4. Their marriage lasted 14 years — his entire pre-fame period.
5. She is the mother of two of Gehry’s children, including the late Leslie Gehry Brenner.

Recent News or Updates

Renewed interest in Anita Snyder comes following the death of Frank Gehry on December 5, 2025, after a short respiratory illness.
Global tributes to Gehry’s architectural legacy have led many to revisit the foundational chapter of his life — including his early struggles, his first marriage, and the woman who supported him long before international recognition.

Conclusion

Anita Snyder may not be a public figure, but her role in Frank Gehry’s story is undeniably significant. She was there before the fame, before the global attention, and before Gehry’s name — a name she influenced — became synonymous with revolutionary architecture.
Her support, sacrifices, and influence helped shape the earliest version of the man the world is celebrating today.

FAQ Section

1. Who is Anita Snyder?
Anita Snyder is the first wife of the late architect Frank Gehry and the mother of his daughters, Brina Gehry and the late Leslie Gehry Brenner.

2. Why is Anita Snyder trending?
Public interest resurfaced after Frank Gehry’s death at age 96, prompting curiosity about his early life and first marriage.

3. How long were Frank Gehry and Anita Snyder married?
They were married for 14 years, from 1952 to 1966.

4. Did Anita Snyder influence Frank Gehry’s success?
Yes. She encouraged him to change his name, supported him financially during his studies, and helped him through early career struggles.

5. How many children do they have?
They share two daughters: Brina Gehry and Leslie Gehry Brenner, who passed away in 2008.