Parker Adams Small III ’80
Parker Adams Small III ’80 died peacefully at home in Wellesley, Massachusetts, on July 13, 2010. Despite being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1989, Parker lived life with the positive Dartmouth spirit reflected in his famous ’80 slideshows. He leaves behind beloved wife Katie Currier Small ’80; daughters Maggie and Lizzie; sister Carla ’84 and her husband, Bob Cronin ’84; and legions of ’80s who admired Parker long before The Boston Globe profiled his courage and grace in the face of cancer. Parker met Katie at the taco party freshman fall. They danced to Boz Scaggs. Nine years later they wed. Parker served as social chair of Alpha Delta and sports editor of The Dartmouth. He was a member of Cabin & Trail and Casque & Gauntlet. Senior year Parker did geology research in Pakistan on a Xerox grant. Parker enjoyed a successful business career. He was an advertising executive at Leo Burnett, product manager at Gillette, consultant at Arthur D. Little and vice president at Butler Capital. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard in 1985. In 1991 Parker’s illness led to an even more successful career as a stay-at-home father and civic volunteer. He became known as “Mr. Science” at his daughters’ elementary school. His candidates won 19 of the 20 local political campaigns he joined. Parker and Katie co-chaired our 10th. At his 20th reunion at Harvard Business School the class recognized Parker with the Courage and Valor Award. At the conclusion of the slideshow at our 25th, we saluted Parker with a standing ovation. He earned it.
