SAMUEL SMALL ROCKLAND – Samuel Small, 93, died Sunday, March 23, 2008, at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, Rockport, after a brief illness. Sam was born Feb. 5, 1915, in Stonington, to William and Rose Eval Small, Russian-Jewish immigrants, who had come to America searching for a better life for themselves and their family. Sam started school in Stonington, but at the age of six or seven, the family moved to New York for a few years. In 1925, the family moved back to Maine, settling in Rockland, where Sam remained for the rest of his life. His father established a meat and poultry business, which Sam entered at a young age and he boasted that it was the only job he ever really had. He graduated from Rockland High School in 1933 and as a young man played the saxophone in Eddie Whalen’s Orchestra. That orchestra traveled throughout Maine playing for dances in the 1930s. In 1938, he married the love of his life, Ruth Dondis of Rockland. They enjoyed almost 70 years of married life together, 62 of which were spent in their beloved home on Limerock Street, Rockland. Sam was a fixture in the Rockland business community for more than 50 years, with his wholesale and retail meat business, Small’s Meats, located on Upper Park Street, Rockland. He was also a well-known cattle dealer, buying and selling livestock at the many farms, then located throughout Eastern and Central Maine and the surrounding islands. He was well known and respected by all the farmers he encountered in his travels. In later years, he enjoyed pointing out the farms he had visited in earlier years to his family and friends. Sam was a lifetime member of Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, Rockland. He was very active in the Masons and Mid-Coast Shrine Club throughout his adult life. He was also a member of B’nai Brith and an associate member of Hadassah. Sam was known for his charitable nature telling his children, “Give 50% more than what you had pledged to give, and you will never miss money given to a charity.” He also, in his quiet way, helped many local people in need. He was known for his sense of humor and kindness. He was very proud of his family and their accomplishments. Sam was predeceased by his parents; and two brothers, Abraham and Irving Small. He is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, whom he always referred to as his “bride”; his two sons, William Small and his wife, Louise, of Orono and Edward Small and his wife, Linda, of Bowie, Md.; his daughter, Barbara Fishman and her husband, Joel, of Rockland; his five grandchildren, Catherine Small of Dublin, Ireland, Aaron Small and his wife, Robin, of Columbia, Md., Eric Small of Alexandria, Va., Jeffrey Fishman and his wife, Mindy, of Acton, Mass., and Mark Fishman and his wife, Pamela, of Weston, Fla. Sam will be missed by his family, friends and the community in which he lived his life. The funeral will take place 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 25, at Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, 50 Willow St., Rockland. Rabbi Amita Jarmon will officiate. Interment will be held after at Berliawsky-Small Cemetery, Upper Park Street, Rockland. Shiva will be observed Tuesday and Wednesday with a memorial service beginning 7 p.m. at the Small home, 107 Limerock St., Rockland. Memorial donations may be made to Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, P.O. Box 1250, Rockland, ME 04841 or Mid-Coast Shrine Club, P.O. Box 856, Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland.
SAMUEL SMALL
