Dr. Burton L. White

Dr. Burton L. White, age 84, of Newton, on Sunday, October 6, 2013. Beloved husband of the late Janet Hodgson-White and the late Jacqueline(Want)White. Loving father of Laura W. Dorfman & her husband Mark, Emily A. Reale & her husband Eric, David J. White, and Daniel J. White & his wife Sheryl. Cherished grandfather of Sam, Jenny, Anjolie, Melissa, Rachel, Matthew and Rebecca. Dear brother of Ronald E. White & his wife Sandra, and Susan Weiner & her partner Judy Gordon. Fond uncle to Michael and Benjamin.

Dr. Burton L. White was a child psychologist who studied the social, physical, emotional, and intellectual development of babies from birth to three years. Dr. White received his B.A. in mechanical engineering at Tufts University, a B.S. in philosophy and M.A. in psychology from Boston University, and his Ph.D in psychology from Brandeis University. During the course of his career, Dr. White taught at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, as well as Tufts and Brandeis Universities. He conducted 37 years of research the development of abilities during the first three years of life and was a true innovator in the field of early childhood education. Dr. White was director of the Harvard Preschool Project, which he founded in 1965 and the first director of the Brookline Early Education Project (BEEP) in Brookline, MA from 1973 to 1981. BEEP was the nation’s first health and development program sponsored by a public school, and available to children aged zero to three in urban and suburban communities.

In 1978 Dr. White established The Center for Parent Education in Newton, MA; a non-profit organization intended to improve the quality of child-rearing and family life. In addition to his research, over the course of his career, he wrote the best-selling books: “The First Three Years of Life”, and “How to Raise a Happy, Unspoiled Child” which were published in several other languages. He also wrote “Educating the Infant and Toddler”, and four other major textbooks, along with many articles. The book “The First Three Years of Life” was made into a WBZ TV series called “The First Three Years”. Dr. White also appeared on national talk shows such as Oprah and The Phil Donahue Show.

Services will be at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 11:00am. Burial to follow at Newton Cemetery, Newton. Following burial, memorial observance will be at the home of Laura & Mark Dorfman until 8pm and Friday, 4-8pm.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Harvard Family Research Project, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 50 Church St., 4th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138; Horizons for Homeless Children, www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org or John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton, www.newtonbgc.com.