Birth date: Jun 27, 1945 Death date: Dec 29, 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 Read Obituary
Bob and I taught at WT White together.. He invited me to join a group of friends for Happy Hour one Friday. There I met one of his North Texas fraternity brothers, Steve Summy. Summy and I took an instant dislike for one another! However, Summy recommended a place called Lake Tahoe for me and a friend, who was a student teacher at White, to visit during our summer off (This was in 1970). I fell in love with Tahoe, and resigned from teaching to relocate to Lake Tahoe. That move changed my life in a very positive way, and it all originated with Bob’s invitation to a Happy Hour!! I’ve always been grateful to him. He was a fine human being, and I’m so glad that I knew him,albeit for a short length of time. ——Dianalaws
Bob's heart was full of caring and love for his students, his friends and his colleagues. Many of my favorite memories of teaching at Brookhaven involve Bob. If only I had been able to read all the books he recommnded as we passed on the library steps! "I just turned it in," he'd say. "Go get it!" After teaching a weighty subject in our coordinated studies class, he'd exhort studnets to "Go home and talk to your parents about this!" Bob is unforgettable. I can't imagine never knowing such a fine person. It was my privilage.
Bob was my best friend. Confidant, colleague, mentor, collaborator, idea bank, book recommender, lunch buddy, teller of tales, and much more, but most of all, best friend for over 50 years. We first met in August 1969 at W.T. White HS in Dallas when we were young teachers just beginning our careers, and I later shared his office at Brookhaven College for 34 years.
He was born to be a teacher and lived his calling to the fullest. He was in his natural element in the classroom surrounded by students, and he loved it when they came by his office or contacted him, even years later, for they were his guiding stars. He was a teacher’s teacher, the consummate master teacher, who cast a giant shadow, pointed the way, and set the highest standard. The good he has done will live long after him.
Above all, he was a genuine, humble, and true friend who made me a better person, as well as everyone he knew, who lifted us up when we were down and inspired us to reach beyond our grasp—the best of friendship. He now lives on in each of us because he was our dear friend. May he rest in peace and honored glory.
Bob and I were great friends. We did a lot together this last 10 years. We traveled together, we went to Spain and Portugal, we toured King Ranch, we went down to Harlingen, and Corpus Christi, and many other places. We shared family and certainly talked incessantly about all kind kinds of subjects, from family, things we still wanted to do, and difficulties bordering on nothing to things with deep meaning. I will miss him terribly.
I just now watched Bob's funeral service in which I heard familiar names and saw familiar faces, as my late husband, Jay Hammond, taught with Bob at Brookhaven. Our wedding anniversary and Bob's birthday were on the same day, and Bob always remembered to call with best wishes, even after we moved to Nashville three years ago. Bob was an energized, thoughtful, dear person. I notified a former student of his in Ireland of his death, and said she remembered him as being funny and very fair.
Loving wishes to Lisa, family and friends.
Marilyn Hammond
I am saddened to learn of Bob's passing. We became friends after he heard me speak about partisan Gerrymandering and the negative impact of Big Money on how we are governed to the students at Brookhaven. That was a little over 12 months ago. He invited me to return a few times to speak to the students but COVID made that impossible. Bob didn't like technology so that wasn't an option. We stayed in touch, mostly by phone. He told me about his travels and plans to go to N Zealand where I had recently been, Feb 2020. I last spoke with Bob just before Christmas, shortly before he left to visit Lisa in NY. He was going to fly. I shared my concern, but he was determined. I so enjoyed talking with Bob about travel and politics, two of our favorite subjects. We had planned to meet over lunch, post-COVID, to continue our exciting conversations. I miss him already but felt blessed to have known him. Like many, I'm sure, he made me feel like a kindred spirit. I offer my condolences to Bob's family
Joan M Ridley
Old East Dallas
American Promise
League of Women Voters
I was always so pleased to visit with Bob, mainly through his wonderful companion, Nancy. Bob was one of the most genuine, interesting persons I knew. He will be missed by all. Adele Hurst
Lisa, I am so sorry to hear about your father's passing. He always came with you to our office so we feel like he is family like you. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Ginny Grand
It was my privilege to serve as Bob's financial advisor at Brookhaven College from its opening in 1978 to my retirement in 2018. I never knew what I might encounter when I swung past the group of offices inhabited by Bob and his merry band of coworkers. He clearly loved teaching and was dedicated to his profession.
He will be sorely missed.
--Dick Abney
January 6, 2021
Bob knew and practiced friendship. I treasure his loyalty and sharing life experiences over our frequent lunches.. His commitment to classroom teaching was extraordinary. During his long career as an educator, he truly "touched lives" and made this world a better place..
My heartfelt sympathy is extended to his family and many friends.
Bob Trotter
Dallas, Texas
January 6, 2021
