Ronald Small

Ronald J. Small, 91, of Shapleigh, died at home on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 after battling cancer for several months. Ron was born on April 4, 1917 in New York City, the son of Lillian (Stoeppler) and William M. Small. He graduated from George Washington High School in the class of 1933. He attended New York University earning a degree in aeronautical engineering in 1936 at the age of 19. In 1967, he earned his MBA from Adelphi University. Ron first worked for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California. Next he worked for Steerman Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, Chance Vought in East Hartford Connecticut, and ended up at Grumman Aircraft in Bethpage, Long Island, New York. He took a brief hiatus from Grumman to come to Alfred, Maine to work for Colonial Aircraft. While in Maine, the family purchased the Square Pond property where Ron would retire. He later returned to Grumman in 1962, settling his family back in Huntington, L.I., New York. Ron was one of the engineers who worked on the lunar module for the Apollo mission. He also taught briefly at Nasson College in Springvale. Ron was an avid Boy Scout Leader in Huntington, Alfred and later Shapleigh. In Shapleigh, he was assistant scoutmaster to Dave Wade. He stayed connected to the Boy Scouts of America for many years after retiring to Maine in 1976. Ron loved his life on Square Pond. He enjoyed swimming, local theatre, sailing, canoeing, and bird watching at his beloved lakeside home on Square Pond. He had been an active town meeting member in Shapleigh for the past thirty years and was a devout member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Limerick, ME. Ron's life and joy was his wife of 59 years, Nancy Small and his beloved family. Surviving are his wife, Nancy Small of Shapleigh; five children, Stephen K. Small and his wife Paula of Lyme Center, NH, Cynthia A. Kostis and partner George A. Boone of Springvale, Tom J. Small of Shapleigh, Andrew J. Small and wife Kim of Sanford and Amy J. Hubbard and husband Grant of Cape Neddick; 13 grandchildren: Ryan, Patrick and Jillian Small; Jessica (Kostis) Zeldner, Risa and Gina Kostis; Joseph, Lauren and Taylor Small; Cameron and Matthew Small; Marlow and Lillian Hubbard and 1 great-grandchild, Sawyer Zeldner and his beloved golden retriever Dixie.Visiting hours will be held on Friday, September 26th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on Saturday, September 27th at St. Matthew's Church in Limerick.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Beacon Hospice at 42 Brickyard Court, York, Maine 03909 or the Shapleigh Rescue Squad at PO Box 51, Shapleigh, Maine 04076. To leave a message of condolence for the family, please click on the Condolences tab at left.