Gregory David Small

Gregory David Small was born April 29, 1948 in Brooklyn, NY to Ruth and Darnley Small. Growing up he spent some summers in Cape Cod at his sister Kay’s or San Francisco with his favorite Aunt Esther. He graduated from Erasmus Hall HS and studied electrical engineering at New York Institute of Technology. He worked for the NY phone company installing/fixing phones for a few years before a 25 year career at Xerox. In the 70’s he took a transfer with Xerox moving West to the “City by the Bay” working on copier machines and management.He bought a home just across the Golden Gate in Mill Valley, CA where he later met his wife Pam, first as a roommate in 1989.

Greg later lead Team Building & Organizational Development for Xerox with a territory of 7 Western States, Guam, Alaska and Hawaii. He took an early buyout with Xerox in the 90’s, moved to Folsom, CA for 9 years striking out on his own with clients in US, Canada, Russia, Japan, and Norway. He retired in 2003 and moved to Newcastle, CA, closer to his wife’s hometown of Colfax, enjoying music, movies, cooking, fishing, boating, RVing, traveling and visiting with friends and family throughout the world.

Greg's interests were as a certified scuba instructor, licensed private pilot, Big Brother, Red Cross volunteer, current events and as a “Human Element” & “Radical Honesty” trainer.He was fascinated by electronics and spent hours with them.He was a good friend to many known for his big hugs, kind heart, honesty and generosity.

Greg battled Stage 4 prostate cancer for 22 years, never in remission with every known treatment tried. He started hospice June 8th and died peacefully in bed holding Pam’s hand at 3:33pm on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

He is survived by his wife Pam Rex Small (Newcastle), Sisters Kay Smith (Cape Cod) and Paula Castagna (NY), brother in law Mike Ray, 9 nieces/nephews and 9 great nieces/nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Darnley “Buddy”, 2 nephews, mother in law Esther Rex Bronson and sister in law, Cyndi Rex Ray. He will be cremated with No services planned.