Obituary of David N. Small

August 22, 2022

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of David North Small, aged 68. David passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 22, 2022. David was born in New York City and remained a New Yorker in body and soul throughout his life.

He grew up in Greenwich Village, the only child of Leonard Small, a clinical psychologist, and Verna Small, a writer, and Greenwich Village landmarks activist.  As a teenager, he began to pursue interests in acting and theater.  David developed a career in film and TV, with a focus on news editing. He was a member of the original 48 hours team with Dan Rather, was instrumental in the launch of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and most recently was a senior editor for “CBS Sunday Morning.”

He oversaw the production of hundreds of news stories and live segments covering breaking news, local stories, international news, and interviews across subjects that included the arts, movies, music, theater, and celebrity profiles. David received multiple awards and recognition for his work including nine Emmy Awards from 1986 to 2017, one for a piece on the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, a Peabody Award in 2007, an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2008, a James Beard Award, and a Sigma Delta Chi Award in 2015.

He married his soulmate, Debra in 1983.  Their son Simon came into their lives in 1984 bringing them immeasurable joy and completing their family. Tragically, Debbie succumbed to illness in 2002. David had the great fortune to find new love with Susan; they married in 2003. He and Susan traveled many places together including to Ireland where they celebrated their favorite author James Joyce with reverent pints of Guinness. David relished his new role as a step-father to Susan’s children and step-grandfather to their children. In 2013 he was blessed with a granddaughter of his own, Ariana, on whom he doted, and who brought him infinite joy. She called him Zeyda.

Sadly, he lost Susan to illness in 2019. Simon was there to support him then and had been a constant source of strength and comfort ever since.  David continued his work at CBS until the Coronavirus pandemic forced him into semi-retirement in 2020.

Since then, he had focused on part-time work and improving his own health. David passed away unexpectedly, at home during his recovery from a surgical procedure.

He is survived by his son Simon Small, granddaughter Ariana Marley and her mother Laura, his step-daughters Susannah and Janine, his step-grandson Charles, step-granddaughter Georgiana, his cousins Dolores, Peter, and Judy, along with many more extended family members and close friends.

Services will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at 5pm. For further details please contact Laura at laura.lecarreaux@gmail.com