Dr. Allan James White, MD

Born on April 6, 1938, in New York, ‘Jim’ aka ‘A.J.’ lived a life defined by intellectual curiosity, discipline, compassion, and an enduring enthusiasm for new challenges. He graduated from Williams College with a degree in French Literature before earning his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Downstate, and then served in the United States Navy in Pensacola, Florida, prior to his fellowship training at the University of Iowa. These experiences helped shape the resilience and sense of service that would characterize the rest of his life.

Dr. White devoted more than six decades to the practice of medicine. As a gynecologic oncologist and surgeon in San Antonio, Texas, he cared for generations of women and their families during some of life's most difficult moments. In solo practice for most of his career, while serving on the staff of many local hospitals and as a faculty member at the University of Texas Health Science Center, he became known for his surgical skill, clinical excellence, calm judgment, deep compassion and willingness to help. He earned the respect of colleagues and the gratitude of countless patients whose lives he touched.

While medicine was his vocation, Dr. White's interests and accomplishments extended far beyond the hospital. He was an avid runner and swimmer throughout his life. His love of endurance sports was exemplified by his participation in legendary events including the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, the Mount Taylor Winter Quadrathlon, and numerous marathons, among them the Boston Marathon. In a testament to both his determination and sense of humor, he ran 50 miles on his 50th birthday and 60 miles on his 60th.

Music was another lifelong passion. An accomplished jazz saxophonist, Dr. White enjoyed improvisation and performance, playing for many years as lead alto in the Joe Mims Doctors Big Band in San Antonio alongside friends and colleagues. Later in life he undertook the challenge of mastering the banjo, to the quiet dismay of many. Friends and family did admire both his talent and his willingness to remain a student throughout his life.

Dr. White also possessed a well-known appreciation for sports cars. Whether behind the wheel of a Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche or his beloved Acura NSX, he delighted in their engineering, performance, and speed.

Above all, Dr. White inspired those around him through his intellect, integrity, generosity, and quiet determination. He demonstrated that a life can be both accomplished and deeply rewarding, marked by service to others while remaining rich with personal passions and pursuits.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John H. White and Ruth White (née Weiss), and by his brother, Mark P. White.

Dr. White is survived by his wife, Namkhang ‘Tao’ White, his loving partner of more than twenty years; his sister, Linda Margo White of Fort Lauderdale, Florida; his half-sister, Emily White (Daniel Kelley), a concert pianist of New York City, and a niece Allison White Beckler, of Pompano Beach, Florida. He was proud of his family heritage as the grandson of Samuel Z. Weiss, whose family established the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, and the well-known Weiss' Restaurant in Broad Channel, Long Island, New York.

He is also survived by his five children: Andrew J. White, MD (Hilary Babcock MD) of St. Louis, Missouri; John H. White, MD (Nikki White) of Seguin, Texas; and Carolyn C. Correll, DDS, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and their mother, Linda J. White of San Antonio, Texas; as well as Lance N. White of Los Angeles, California, and Jared J. White of Austin, Texas, and their mother, Melissa Childers-White of San Antonio.

Dr. White was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren, including Hannah White, MD (Jackson Barzun) a resident physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dartmouth who followed her grandfather into the field of women's health; Jackson White of Austin, Texas; Carter White of St. Louis, Missouri; Kathryn Crowley and Sam Crowley of Charlotte, North Carolina; and John H. White III of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was also a cherished step-grandfather to Jillian Herrmann, James Herrmann, Madison Correll, and Morgan Correll.

Jim touched thousands of lives over the course of nearly nine decades. His legacy lives on in the patients he healed, the physicians he mentored, the music he shared, the miles he ran, the cars he drove, and the family he loved. He will be remembered not only as an exceptional physician, but as a man of boundless curiosity, remarkable talent and enduring kindness. Those who knew and loved him will carry forward his example of excellence and perseverance.

May his memory be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers consider a donation to the Society of Gynecologic Oncology at sgo.org

Visitation will be held at Porter Loring Mortuary - North, 2102 North Loop 1604 East, San Antonio, TX 78232, US, on June 21, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at the same location on June 21, 2026, at 11:00 am.