Résumé

US Army service, Korean War, c. 1950-1951.

Employee, US Forest Service, Montana, c. 1953. According to his obituary, in this job, he "...worked to maintain trails and forestry facilities with fire fighting responsibility as well." (See Los Angeles Times.com, "Sherwin Earl Small 1929 - 2021," published 05/13/2021, accessed 12/07/2022.)

Draftsman, Kite and Overpeck and Associates, Incorporated, Architects, Los Angeles, CA, late 1950s.

Architect, National Medical Enterprises, Santa Monica, CA, c. 1965-1993. In 1969, Small became Head of National Medical Enterprises's Construction and Design Department. According to his obiituary in this role, he had "...responsibility for design, construction and equipping of numerous hospitals in the U.S. and abroad. He retired from National Medical Enterprises as an Executive Vice President in 1993." (See Los Angeles Times.com, "Sherwin Earl Small 1929 - 2021," published 05/13/2021, accessed 12/07/2022.)

Consultant, Project Management Collaborative, LLC, Encino, Los Angeles, CA, c. 1994.

High School / College

Graduate, Francis W. Parker High School, Chicago, IL, 1947.

B.A., Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago, IL, 1956. In later years, Small endowed the "Sherwin E. Small Endowed Scholarship Fund" at IIT.

Relocation

Sherwin E. Smulevitz was born in Chicago, IL, in 1929, and spent his childhood here. The 1930 US Census located the Smulevitz Family dwelling in an apartment building at 3600 Costello Avenue in Chicago. The household was crowded as four members of his mother's family lived with them in this apartment, Anna Reibman, (born c. 1915 in NY), Amy J. Reibman (born c. 1917 in IL), Lawrence Reibman (born c. 1918 in IL) and Maurice Reibman (born c. 1920 in IL). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1214; FHL microfilm: 2340203, accessed 12/07/2022.)

His surname at birth was "Smulevitz," but this was changed to "Small" sometime between 1930 and 1940.

In 1940, the Small Family, plus his Aunt Amy, had an apartment at 7059 Eggleston Avenue in Chicago. They paid $45 per month in rent, a little bit more than paid by neighbors. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: m-t0627-00956; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 103-1166, accessed 12/07/2022.)

He graduating from Parker High School in the city's Mid-North District, c. 1947. In 1947, Sherwin continued to inhabit the apartment at 7059 Eggleston Avenue. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards for Illinois, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 1676, accessed 12/07/2022.)

In 1950, he lived with his mother, brother Neil and aunt Amy Reibman in an apartment at 223 North Mayfield Avenue in Chicago. (His Aunt Amy, like his mother, also worked in the garment industry as a office manager for a lingerie firm.) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 1877; Sheet Number: 13; Enumeration District: 103-3459, accessed 12/07/2022.)

In about 1950, he was drafted into the US Army, serving two years during the Korean War.

Following military service, Small matriculated at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), where he followed a five-year architecture track. Small graduated from IIT, known for its Modernist campus by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe., in 1956. He spent at least one summer working the Montana wilderness, for the US Forest Service.

The architect relocated to Los Angeles, likely in the later 1950s, to work in the office of Kite and Overpeck and Associates, Architects. Aside from world travel, Small remained in Los Angeles for the rest of his life. In later years, he attended cooking schools in Italy, sharpening his culinary skills.

He made his home in Agoura Hills, CA, between 1995 and 2002, at least. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation City: Agoura Hills; State: California; Year(s): 1995-2002, accessed 12/07/2022.)

He passed away in the Ventura County city of Westlake Village, CA, and was buried in Simi Valley, CA.

Parents

His mother was Minnie Reibman (born c. 1909 in NY-d. 10/29/1999 in Westlake Village, CA), his father, Charles Small (born c. 1901 in IL-died c. 1980). In 1930, his father worked as a furniture salesman and a grocery salesman ten years later. On both sides, his parents families were Jewish immigrants from Russia, according to the 1930 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1214; FHL microfilm: 2340203, accessed 12/07/2022.) It is possible that the Smulevitz (or Shmulevitz) Family had come from Minsk in what is now Belarus.

As per the 1940 US Census, his mother attended three years of high school, while his father had had one.

His parents divorced at some point between 1940 and 1950. In 1950, the US Census indicated that Min was the head of the household, and worked as a bookkeeper in a dress fmanufacturing business. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 1877; Sheet Number: 13; Enumeration District: 103-3459, accessed 12/07/2022.)

Siblings included Doris M. Small Vinik (born 07/01/1930 in IL) and Neil Small (born 11/01/1932 in IL),

Spouse

He wed Marjory Taylor c. 1987.

Biographical Notes

According to a draft registration card of 02/10/1947, Small was Caucasian with a light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He stood 6-feet, 4-inches tall, and weighed 155. He also had had an appendectomy by this time.

Member, Shomrei Torah Synagogue, West Hills, CA.

Member, San Fernando Valley Woodworkers, Encino, Los Angeles, CA.