Dr. Robert W. Small, 76, of New Bedford died Friday February 1, 2002 at home after a brief illness.He was the husband of Irma D. (Dayton) Small, to whom he was married for 48 years. Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Foster L. and Margaret (Gilmore) Small, he had lived in New Bedford for most of his life. He was a communicant of St. Lawrence Church, where he also served as a lector for many years.
Dr. Small graduated from New Bedford High School in 1943, Georgetown University in 1949 and Georgetown University Medical School in 1953. After graduating from medical school, he served his internship and residency in Family Medicine at Worcester City Hospital, and served a year in Pathology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital before returning to New Bedford in 1956 where he opened his practice in Family Medicine. He continued to practice for 17 years before becoming an Emergency Room Physician at St. Luke's Hospital, a position he held before retiring in 1991. He was also served as Employee Health Physician at St. Luke's Hospital for 29 years, before retiring from that position in 1998.
Dr. Small had been the school physician for the Acushnet Public Schools and the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School. After his retirement from Employee Health at St. Luke's, he served as a volunteer physician at the schools.
Dr. Small was a Board certified member of the American Academy of Family Medicine, and a member of the Massachusetts Academy of Family Medicine, the College of Emergency Physicians, the Bristol South Medical Society. He was also a charter member and former President of the Serra Club of New Bedford, and had been a member of the former Catholic Physicians Guild and the New Bedford Medical Society.
He served as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater, and was a recipient of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal, the American Theater medal and the World War Victory medal.
He loved to sail, read and travel and thoroughly enjoyed his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife; 2 sons, Dr. Robert W. Small, Jr. of Westerly, RI, and David L. Small, Esq., of Barrington, RI; 3 daughters, Carol E. O'Connor of Marblehead, Anne Marie Podd of Glen Rock, NJ, and Jeanne E. Ball of Norwich, VT; a sister, Marjorie A. Kennedy of Wayland; 9 grandchildren, Laura M. O'Connor, Ryan P. O'Connor, Robert W. Small, III, Andrew M. Small, Christopher J. Small, Catherine M. Small, Emily A. Podd, Katie L. Ball, and Theodore J. Small; and several nieces and nephews. He was the grandfather of the late Nicholas P. Ball.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New BedfordWednesday at 9 AM. Funeral Mass at St. Lawrence Church at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial with full military honors will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Nurse & Hospice Care, P.O. Box 831, Fairhaven, MA 02719.