Lewis "Jack" Marion White

Lewis “Jack” White passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, at his home in Vienna, Virginia, surrounded by his family. Jack was born in Chase City, Virginia on August 22, 1921. When Jack was a young boy, his family moved to Grand Rapids Michigan where his father managed a Coca-Cola plant. Several years later, the family moved back to their farm in Cifax, Virginia where Jack lived until leaving home for college.

After two years at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, Jack transferred to Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service until his schooling was interrupted by the World War II draft. He served three years in the U.S. Army, most of them in China and India. Upon his return in 1946, he completed his education and graduated from Georgetown University.

Jack spent several years working for the Department of Commerce as a Commercial Agent in the New York Regional Office. In 1950, Jack passed the written test for the Foreign Service Exam in Paris where he was studying French at the Sorbonne University. After returning to the U.S., he passed the oral exam and was commissioned as a Foreign Service Officer. At one of his early posts, Jack met his beloved wife of 70 years, Dagmar Hasalová, the daughter of Czechoslovak General Antonín Hasal who was a military advisor to President Beneš in London during World War II.

For the remainder of his career, he lived and worked in countries all over the world. his posts included: Bogota, Columbia; Noumea, New Caledonia; Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic; Managua, Nicaragua; Rabat, Morocco; and Washington, D.C. In 1957, the U.S. State Department sent him to Harvard University where he obtained a master’s degree in Economics. Jack and Dagmar had two children, Sandra and Tom, who loved the experiences and education they received from living abroad.

After his retirement, Jack joined the Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR) organization where he spent 45 years contributing his time and talents. He served on the Board of Governors for two terms and was the Chairman of the Memorial Committee for 14 years. This committee oversees the upkeep and beautification of the Foreign Service Officers’ section at Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C. Jack also instituted a moving annual Memorial Day service at the cemetery that includes tributes by notable speakers, a bagpiper, and a bugler.

In 2015, he received DACOR’s highest award, “The President’s Cup.” It was given to him “In grateful recognition and deep appreciation for his sustained dedication to DACOR and the DACOR Bacon Foundation, for his distinguished Foreign Service career as an economist, and for his lifelong engagement with a wide variety of foreign affairs and local community-related activities.”

Jack was also actively involved in the Czech and Slovak community of the Washington, D.C. area for many decades. He was a past President of the Wilsonian Club which honors President Wilson and the founders of Czechoslovak independence in association with the Woodrow Wilson House. During his tenure, he was heavily involved in fund-raising to rebuild the Woodrow Wilson statue in Prague that had been destroyed by the Nazis in 1940.

As a board member of the American Friends of the Czech Republic for six years, Jack was a prime mover in the 2002 installation of a statue of Czech patriot Tomáš Masaryk on Massachusetts Avenue at the intersection of Q and 22nd Streets, NW. He was awarded the "Freedom" medal by the Czech Republic for his many contributions to the American Friends of the Czech Republic organization and his compilation of a three-volume series of memoirs by Czechs and Slovaks who fought during World War II for a democratic country after the war ("On All Fronts: Czechoslovaks in World War II"). These books have become a unique source of information and inspiration for historians and researchers.

Jack had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. A lifelong learner, Jack was an avid reader of foreign affairs, current politics, and global matters. He had a passion for exploring his genealogical roots and was a member of the Jamestowne Society (descendants of early Jamestown settlers). He was also a talented artist and writer.

Above all, Jack was devoted to his large extended family and kept the members connected with over 200 family newsletters he authored and published. He even kept up with his WWII buddies, publishing a newsletter and helping to organize their reunions. He loved nothing more than family get-togethers, especially the annual summer week at Sandbridge Beach. His family and friends mourn his loss deeply but will always keep him close to their hearts and in their memories.

Jack is survived by his wife, Dagmar White of Vienna, Virginia; his daughter Sandra Bartell (Earl) of Bellevue, Washington; his son Tom White (Susan) of Vienna, Virginia; and grandsons Andy White (Samantha), Michael White (Haley), and Curtis Bartell.

A Celebration of Life service for Jack will be held at Joseph Gawler’s Sons Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20016 at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16. A reception for friends and family will be held at Gawler’s reception rooms right after the service.

Memorial donations can be made to the Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR) organization in memory of Lewis “Jack” White at:

https://www.dacorbacon.org/support_us_ways_to_donate.php

Scroll down to the Memorial/Tributes section of the page for information about how to donate.

If you wish to send flowers for the service, we suggest Suburban Florist, 7936 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD. Phone: (301) 656-2288.