Robert Coleman Small, Jr. Obituary (1936

Robert Coleman Small, Jr., 80, died Saturday, February 4, 2017, at NHC in Bluffton, SC, after a long, courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Small was born on December 2, 1936, in Washington, DC. He was the son of the late Robert Coleman Small, Sr. and Edna McCrae Small. He grew up in Baltimore, MD. Robert was a graduate of the University of Virginia where he received his baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees. At the University of Virginia, Robert's mentor was Dr. Richard A. Meade, who instilled in his pupil the habit of an open, enquiring mind. Robert was elected to Phi Beta Kappa Society in 1958. He was a member of the Parish Church of St. Helena. Dr. Small joined the faculty at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, in September, 1970. He remained there through May, 1991, serving as a Professor of English Education and eventually as the Associate Dean of the College of Education. From 1991 until his retirement in 2003, Dr. Small served as the Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at Radford University, Radford, VA. In those roles, his teaching and professional demeanor inspired students and colleagues and significantly shaped the minds and careers of teachers and professors who are now spread across the United States and around the world. He was a dedicated scholar and published numerous articles and books in his field of literature, especially young adult literature, and the teaching of English. His work with and leadership of professional organizations such as the Virginia Association of Teachers of English and the National Council of Teachers of English led to his being the editor of two influential refereed professional journals: the Virginia English Bulletin and the ALAN Review (the journal of the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of the NCTE). Through these editorships, Robert extended his influence on the teaching of English and especially the teaching of young adult literature to a national and international audience. Today, thousands and thousands of students in public schools, colleges, and universities are the beneficiaries of Dr. Small's investment in the lifetimes and professional development of teachers and professors who had the privilege of being his students and who themselves strive daily to be as good as he was convinced that they could be. In the words of one of his doctoral students: "We will all miss Bob, but we will all live better lives because Bob taught us how to be better and more caring and more thoughtful people." A teacher can have no greater legacy than that his students and their students continuously strive to emulate his tireless quest for understanding and wisdom. Surviving are his partner/spouse of 47 years, Donald J. Kenney of Beaufort, SC, and their beloved Australian terrier, Tobi. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to a local humane society. Robert loved his volunteer work with the Pulaski, VA, Humane Society. Memorial services will be planned and announced for a later date.