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Jerry Eugene White

Jerry Eugene White, 91, of Madison, went to be with the Lord on Oct. 18. He was born on Oct. 18, 1932, in Los Angeles, the son of Mary Elizabeth Givens White Davenport and Raymond Anthony White. He was united in marriage to Leona Ruth Stroup on Dec. 21, 1957, in Washington, D.C..

Jerry is known for his irreproachable moral fiber, love of hymns, dedication to excellence, and his ability to uplift others to pursue success in every facet of their lives. As a boy who grew up in Oakwood, Ohio, he dreamt of seeing the world, a dream he lived out during his impressive career and years of service. After high school, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1950, at the start of the Korean War. He served four years, first at Andersen AFB on the island of Guam and also at Loring AFB on the Maine/Canadian border. He traveled extensively throughout the Western Pacific, loved his time in Maine, and was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1954.

Education played a significant role in his life and was a love he shared and encouraged in his family. Jerry was most grateful and proud of earning a coveted B.S. degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in 1957. Georgetown forever held a very special place in his heart and inspired his lifelong love of learning. He went on to garner a J.D. degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 1966, attending at night while working full time, newly married with a young son.

His career began as a Sales Representative with Anaconda. He went on to hold the company’s top labor relations position. Jerry held many senior-level corporate positions, including sales, law, human resources, and general management with multi-national corporations Anaconda, Phelps Dodge, ARCO, and LM Ericsson. Following the completion of an executive management program at Columbia University Graduate School of Business, he was named President International of an ARCO/LM Ericsson joint venture. His responsibilities included global marketing of telecommunications goods and services and management of offshore subsidiaries, which expanded his window to the world. He opened a consulting firm in Greenwich, attracting a broad range of clients in the Americas, Europe, the Pacific Rim, and the Middle East. A particularly noteworthy and long-term assignment involved being based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, over a four-year period.

Jerry and Ruth have been blessed to have traveled extensively and “seen the world.” Family vacations included trips to Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Higgins Beach, Maine. Retirement brought Jerry and Ruth to Madison in 2010. During that time, they have been faithful attendees at the First Congregational Church of Madison following more than 50 years of dedicated service and membership at the First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich. Their time in Madison has been marked by Sunday services, reading, golfing, lunching at the Madison Beach Hotel, and spending time with dear neighbors, friends, and family. Not to be forgotten, Jerry was a huge Ohio State football fan.

He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-six years, Ruth White; his children, Christian Eugene White and daughter-in-law Melinda of Freeport, Maine, Laurence White of Middletown; his adored granddaughter Devon Griffin White Miatke and grandson-in-law, Baxter Miatke, of Portland Maine; and sister Jamie (Peggy) Hunt of Waikoloa, Hawaii. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents (“Mom and Pop”), and his brother Tony.

Funeral services with military honors will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the First Congregational Church of Madison at 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison, Connecticut 06443, with Todd and Sarah Vetter officiating. Friends, family, and military veterans are welcome. Hymns will be sung. Arrangements are under the direction of Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Road, Madison. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support veterans at Gary Sinise Foundation, www.garysinisefoundation.org/give.