Kennedy Girls’ Team Counseled Following On-Court Death of Referee

The Kennedy girls’ freshman-sophomore basketball team has received counseling from school officials after witnessing the death of referee Robert Small last week.

Small, 41, of Santa Ana, died Dec. 9 after suffering a heart attack during a freshmen-sophomore game between Kennedy and Artesia at Kennedy High.

“It was shocking to the kids,” said Shirley Smith, girls’ athletic director at Kennedy. “We’ve had them talk to school counselors about how they feel.”

According to Kennedy Coach Debi Salazar, Small collapsed after making a call three minutes into the game. Salazar said trainers from both teams administered CPR while a Kennedy official called 911 for help. Salazar estimated that paramedics arrived within five minutes. He was taken to La Palma Intercommunity Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The tragedy could affect Kennedy’s players for some time.

“It shocked everybody. It was scary,” Salazar said. “We’ve talked a lot about it. We’ve talked about living and dying, how it affects everybody, how it is so much more important than winning or losing a basketball game. It is so tragic. Every time I shut my eyes at night, I see that poor man’s face.”

Kennedy Principal John Dahlem said the basketball team donated money to send flowers to Small’s family.

Services were held Tuesday at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church in Santa Ana.