Jerry Eugene White

He was born on October 18, 1932, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Mary Elizabeth Givens White Davenport and Raymond Anthony White. He was united in marriage to Leona Ruth Stroup on December 21, 1957, in Washington, DC.

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, Connecticut 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, Connecticut in 2010. During that time, they have been faithful attendees at the First Congregational Church of Madison following 50+ years of dedicated service and membership at the First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich, CT. 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 CT, 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 & Pop”), and his brother Tony.

Funeral services with military honors will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. 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, Connecticut 06443.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to support veterans at:

Gary Sinise Foundation

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/give