Mr. James Gray Smalley (class of 1950), age 87, of Albany, New York, passed away March 12, 2015, at Eddy Village Green in Cohoes, New York. He was born September 5, 1927, in East Saint Louis, Illinois, the son of the late Arby and Bessie Gray Smalley.

James Smalley was a professor of foreign languages at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where he taught from 1957 to 1987 and served as department chair for many years. He served in the United States Navy during WWII, and graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1950. He did further graduate work at the University of Illinois and the University of Iowa.

Smalley was a master teacher and linguist who thrived in the college classroom, where he instilled a love of Romance languages in several generations of Central College students.  Dedicated to the study of other languages, he also enjoyed learning German, Italian, and Russian. A gifted translator, he produced several translations of the short stories of the Uruguayan writer Horacio Quiroga. Smalley was also a passionate body builder, who maintained a rigorous weight-lifting and exercise regimen throughout most of his life. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed target shooting, hunting, traveling, taking care of his Kentucky log cabin, and spending time with his family and friends.

James Smalley is survived by his wife, Ann Stamper Smalley, formerly of Emerson, Kentucky; one son and daughter-in-law, John Gray and Perrin Smalley of London, England; one daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Ann Smalley and James Peltz of Albany, New York; and four grandchildren, Thurston Smalley, Owen Smalley, Hannah Peltz Smalley, and William Peltz Smalley. He also leaves many other family and friends who will sadly miss him.