Douglas Goddard White

Doug was born on September 17, 1954, the son of the late Mac and Swish White. He spent his youth in Wenham, Massachusetts where he cultivated a lifelong fascination with the natural world, and immersed himself in music, swimming and tennis, treehouse-building, and bees (which he kept in his bedroom for six months, in spite of his cowardly brother). He was proud to attend Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine, graduating in 1976 with a degree in Biology.

In 1980 he met his “density,” Marti Robinson, while teaching at TASIS Hellenic International School in Kiffisia, Greece. In 1983, the couple helped to open TASIS Cyprus in Nicosia where their first son, Alex, appeared in 1984. Doug asked for “seven more of these”, but Marti agreed to only two, and thus, sons Ben and Nick came along in 1986 and 1988.

Doug’s career in education spanned more than 40 years. He was a science teacher and Dean of Students at TASIS and The Oxford Academy in Westbrook, and then a school counselor at Branford High School until his retirement in 2018. Doug’s humor, ingenuity, and creativity always inspired his work with kids.

An accomplished amateur photographer, Doug captured the essence of field and forest life in award-winning photos. He championed his deeply felt love of the natural world through his many years on the board of the Westbrook Land Conservation Trust. He shared his musical spirit and deep bass voice as a longstanding member of Con Brio Choral Society. Doug was also a secret composer at his piano and the inventor of the famous (to those who knew him) Douglas Cookie. Aside from time with his family, he was happiest digging in his garden, sitting in his back acre with an IPA or watching the Red Sox, Patriots, and Huskies win.

Douglas is survived by Marti, his three sons Alex (Sofia), Ben (Meredith), and Nick (Becky), his granddaughters, Evelyn and Olivia, his sisters Randall and Jesse, his brother Gerrit - not to mention a slew of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

In lieu of flowers, Doug would appreciate that contributions in his memory be made to the Westbrook Land Conservation Trust, Con Brio Choral Society, or Smilow Cancer Hospital. He loved to see his name in print ;-)

A service to honor Doug’s life will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at 10:30 am at the Westbrook Congregational Church in Westbrook.