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M. Hayaud-Din
Robert Douglas Little
June 25th, 1945 - December 29th, 2020
June 25th, 1945 - December 29th, 2020
Dear Friends, Colleagues, Students, and everyone who knew him:
Bob Little's motto at his 75th birthday dinner was "Friendship Forever".
It is with great sadness we are sharing the news of the passing of Robert Douglas Little on 12/29/2020 at his home in Richardson, TX. Born on 6/27/1945 in Storm Lake, Iowa to his parents Robert Douglas Little and Mabel Viola (Orwig) Little, Bob began his friendship journey. His life on the farm with his Southdown sheep and other animals as his best friends were among his favorite childhood memories and pastimes. The friendships he forged during his elementary and high school years carried him through life.
Bob graduated from Albert City High School in 1963 and attended Fort Dodge Community College. From there he transferred to The University of North Texas where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in education in 1967. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and the friendships formed there have been lifelong. He did his student teaching at Adamson High School in Oak Cliff, TX for one year before pursuing a graduate degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he studied constitutional law.
From the fall of 1969 to spring 1971, Bob taught history and geography at WT White High School in Dallas. He then joined the Dallas County Community College District at Mountain View College, where he remained until 1978, when transferred to Brookhaven College. There he remained until May 2020, capping his teaching career of 53 years.
Brookhaven's opportunities provided him the chance to travel the world, explore a love of students and engaging with others, and helping to influence and transform students' lives.
The other loves of his life were his daughter, Lisa Little of New York City, and his 30-year companion, Nancy Ungerman, of Dallas, TX. Together, Nancy and Bob traveled the world, shared dinners with friends, and were a great source of happiness for each other.
Bob was pre-deceased by his parents. He is survived by his brother, James Little and wife, Sandra, of Ankeny, Iowa; sister Jane Vallier and husband, Fred, of Ames, Iowa; by his daughter Lisa Little of New York City, Lisa's mother, Peggy Little of Garland, TX, and Nancy Ungerman.
Burial of his ashes will be at a future date in Storm Lake, Iowa, with his parents, in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Visitation at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas, TX will be on Wed., 1/6/20 from 10 AM until 5 PM. A celebration of his life will be held at the same facility on Thur., 1/7/20 at 10 AM. Due to the virus, streaming of the service will be made available. Please view the Restland website or contact Restland for details at 972-238-7111.
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship in Bob's name will be established through the Faculty Association at Brookhaven College. Please contact Ahad Din at aDin@dcccd.edu for more information. Donations may also be made to the North Texas Food Bank.
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Tributes
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Dan
In my first semester at Brookhaven after being expelled from high school, Professor Little assigned me a short, two-page paper with our midterm exam. It was supposed to be 25% of the grade for the midterm. I did not do the paper, but I aced the exam itself. When he returned our exams, he looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and said, "Don't do that again." He had given me full credit. I ended up getting the first A I'd ever received as a final grade, spending a couple of years working odd jobs while I finished high school by taking classes at Brookhaven, and getting my bachelor's. Now, looking back as I finish law school and prepare to move to NYC to start a very different life than I (or anyone else) ever envisioned for me, I cannot fathom where I would be if he had not shown me such kindness. He saw me for what I was - a scared, short-sighted kid - and gave me an opportunity to grow. His commitment to empathy and teaching - I saw him do similar things for other people, each very different, but all his students - was a model for life and service. I owe him an immense debt, and I hope to pay it forward eventually. I regret immensely that I never wrote him a letter to express my thanks.
Johnny Castro
Wow, I guess it has been 20 years, since I met Bob! Jane Rowe, myself and Shirley Smith had offices right next to Bob. He was such a nice man and a great colleague. It was so fun to be around the Social Science guys, we all had such wonderful chats and exchanges. I was sadden to hear of his passing and my condolences to his daughter and family. Bob leaves a lasting impression of kindness to us all!
Adrien Cuellar-Mcguire
Bob was the first person outside of our division that Charles McAdams introduced me to when I started in 1997. Bob was so proud that he and Charles were Iowa boys. I remember the three of us having coffee in the morning in Charles’s office and discussing world events. So many good memories! Rest In Peace my friend! ~Adrien
Glenn Kasparian
I met Bob as we started our mutual journey to create the best learning environment - Brookhaven College in 1978. Both of us had been teaching at other district campuses but all of the founder faculty came together and bonded under adversity since there were no lecture halls finished and an abundance of fill dirt. Bob and I both sported beards and often students would mix us up and beging asking me about some history or government assignment until I politely said you want that other good looking guy with the beard in the Social Science department. As time went on we would tell each other and laugh about these encounters. Bob with his love of humor would enlist Lisa as a youngster growing up on our campus, to stop me or pop into my office and ask, "Are you Bob Little?" Bob was always interested in his friend's family history and as an Armenian American he would inquire if I knew thw history of the Armenian genocide and wanted my feelings on the matter and how it impacted my family. My maternal grandfather was a walker all of his life as was Bob and Bob loved to hear stories of my grandfather walking ten mile into downtown Boston to pay a bill and the then walk back home with the trolly running along his path. He would stop me in the hall to introduce me to one of his new colleagues or a student to make a connect. Inrecent years we would see each other infrequently and stop to in disbelief that we were both still teaching every day doing the thing we loved the most. I will miss the enthusiasm and inquisitiveness and wanting to share something new he had read or experienced. You always felt when you talked to Bob that you were kindred spirits. I am so fortunate to have known Bob for these many years and he has taught me to keep up the good fight and carry on our special mission as teachers. Bless you Bob and bless you Lisa.
Shelby Bishop
I met Bob in 2004 when I began at Brookhaven College in Coordinated Studies. Bob always took a keen interest in his students and we spent many of his office hours discussing his lovely daughter, his growing up in Iowa, the current state of politics, books and movies he would recommend. I was always so honored to spend time and have engaging dialog with him. Bob exposed me to the Dallas Counsel of World Affairs where I had the pleasure of hearing from local and world leaders at luncheons. Bob encouraged me to take a summer abroad class to Costa Rica, my first venture outside the US and I have fond memories from that time that I will forever cherish. Bob always knew someone who knew someone who knew someone that he was eager to connect you with to help you along your path. Over the years, Bob became my friend and mentor. He finally talked me into majoring in Political Science. He told me about how wonderful the Poli Sci program was at SMU and about many of the classes he enjoyed taking there. Bob wrote me a recommendation letter for admission to SMU, along with many other valued professors and mentors, and he played a pivotal role in helping me get one of five full tuition scholarships to SMU so I could complete my Political Science Degree. My life was forever changed because I had the pleasure of meeting Bob and becoming his friend. We kept in touch over these many years. My last conversation with Bob was in late October when he called to suggest a possible job opportunity for me and of course we agreed to go to dinner once things were safe from the pandemic. This last conversation is so quintessentially Bob. Bob, thank you for being you. For always caring and listening and hearing everyone out with genuine interest and care. For being an "A+#1" professor. For exposing me to books, movies, events and ideas I wouldn't have otherwise known existed. Thank you for being one of my forever friends. XOXOX
Barbara Morchower
Shortly after Bob and Nancy returned from their trip to Russia I saw him at Brookhaven and asked about the trip. I held my skepticism about supporting the Putin regime in the face of his enthusiasm about his experience with the Russian people. I am Bob’s senior age-wise but he bypassed me in teaching by 10 years. Yet I take inspiration from him to practice the lessons I claim to have learned: everyone has a story and be better at listening rather than talking. Thank you, Bob. Barbara Morchower
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