SALEM – Robert I. Little, Jr., 61, died Sunday morning, April 3, 2011 at Kaplan Family Hospice House after a humble, yet courageous, battle with cancer.
Born in Salem, he was the son of the late Robert I. Sr. and R. Elinor (Cathcart) Little. He attended Salem public schools and was a graduate of Salem High School in the class of 1968. He was employed at Hotwatt in Danvers for over 30 years.
Bob or “Bobby” (to those who knew him since childhood) loved the city of Salem, and liked to spend his time watching the water down the Salem Willows and going for short drives around town. When his daughters were younger he was very involved in youth athletics, and was a fixture at all Salem High School Girls basketball, field hockey and softball games. He had a fondness for watching music videos, wearing the same reindeer sweater at Christmas each year, and was a connoisseur of strawberry shortcake and grapenut pudding. Before he passed, he said that in his dreams he wished that each member of his family could “buy a house, and live next door to one another but share a common backyard and just have cookouts all the time.” It is these kind of sweet, offhand comments that will be most missed.
He is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Jessica A. Little of Cambridge, Cassandra J. and Damien Smith of Woburn, one grandson, Gabriel Smith of Woburn, a sister and brother-in-law, Susan G. and Curtis Jones Jr. of Beverly, nieces Robin L. Flynn, Melissa L. MacDonald and nephews, Mark D. Jones and Curtis E. Jones, III.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, April 6, 2011 from 5 to 8 pm at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. At Mr. Little’s request, funeral services are private. For those who desire, contributions may be made in his memory to the Hospice of The North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For guest book and directions, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.