Michael Robert White

Michael “Mike” White passed away on June 20, 2025, at the age of 78. He leaves behind a big, loving family: his wife of 56 years, Sandy; three children—Jason, Michael, and Angela; eleven grandkids—Makenzie, Devon, Donovan, Aidyn, Madison, Gabrielle, Lia, Logan, Jakob, Ian, and Fionn; two daughters-in-law, Michelle and Aili; one son-in-law, Steve; and three step-grandkids—Steven, Eric, and Aidan. He was the best kind of husband, a devoted dad, and a legendary “Poppy.”

Mike served in the Navy from 1965 to 1969, working as a sonar operator on submarines. He was proud of that service—and proud of his USN submarine service tattoo, which he famously refused to remove, even when it cost him a job with the Norristown Police Department. That moment summed up who Mike was: principled, loyal, and unshakably true to himself.

After the Navy, he built a 31-year career at Merck. He never stopped learning. He earned a BA in Biology from Temple University in 1977, an MA in Microbiology from West Chester University in 1985, and a Doctorate in Education in 1997, again from Temple. In retirement, he went back to school—but this time as a professor, teaching science education at Holy Family University for 10 years.

Mike loved to travel the world with Sandy—Europe, Australia, Africa, South America, Canada, even the Galapagos Islands. He was a science guy through and through, always reading research articles or sci-fi novels. He was also a lifelong fitness buff—something he passed down to his kids—and a softie for golden retrievers. He enjoyed a glass of wine (especially a reasonably priced Chardonnay) and had a real passion for movies. His list of favorites was long, but a few that topped the list were Last of the Mohicans, Aliens, Terminator, Predator, World War Z, and Die Hard. The list of those that were “watchable” is far longer.

Mike had a quiet strength and a big heart. His love of his kids and grandkids was a universal constant, including multiple generations of “smack chumps,” basement hockey,” the “nasties”, and infamous “the bolo beast.” The real legacy of a person is the love, memories, and stories they leave behind. Mike leaves behind a legend.

We’ll let one of his favorite movie quotes have the final word:

“Let’s saddle up, Apone!”