Jack Parker White

Jack Parker White

Jack Parker White, age 89, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on May 30, 2021 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jack was born in Waterloo, Iowa on August 20, 1931 to Harry and Alma White. After a brief residence in Chicago, the family moved to Brooklyn, NY, where Jack won 2nd place in a Beautiful Baby Contest. Later, he graduated from Midwood High School and Brooklyn College with a degree in English. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56 at the Pentagon. Following in the footsteps of his father, Jack studied to become a court stenographer while working at Gibbs & Cox in New York. In 1961, he became an official court reporter in the Superior Court in Wilmington. Later, he became a partner in Varallo, White & Wilcox, a freelance firm, and ended his career as a court reporter in the Court of Chancery.

For many years, Jack played a leadership role in the National Shorthand Reporters Association, providing seminars on various aspects of court reporting and writing articles for the NSRA journal. He and his father, Harry L. White, were the first father and son to win the National Merit Award for speed and accuracy on the same day.

A member of Grace United Methodist Church, Jack sang in the choir and played hand bells for many years and headed up several committees, including Facilities Management, Finance, Art Initiative, and music director search committee.  He was one of the original members of the card ministry started in the early 2000s. Members of the group always found amusement in his many stories told around the card writing table.

Throughout his life, Jack was a passionate classical music fan who attended numerous concerts at Carnegie Hall, NY, Kennedy Center, Grand Opera House, and the Philadelphia Academy of Music. He delighted his friends by playing the piano on countless occasions and showing photos of his many trips abroad. In the 1970s, Jack performed in many community theater productions in Wilmington, including 1776, Showboat, Wings, First Monday in October, Gigi, and Promises, Promises. He also developed his talent for speaking publicly as a recorder for the DE Association for the Blind and as a liturgist.

A devoted Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Jack had a lifelong passion for baseball and baseball statistics. His other interests included photography, travelling in the U.S. and abroad, and reading world history. His friends and family will remember him most for his wonderful sense of humor and his tall tales.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Alma White of Elkton, MD, as well as his older brother, James. He is survived by his wife, Diane Olin White, whom he married in 1995; his daughters, Karen and Lori White from his first marriage; and his grandchildren, Marcy Ganoe, Marina McFarland, Adrienne Ganoe, and Connor McFarland.

A Celebration of his Life and Memorial Service will be held at the Grace United Methodist Church, 900 N Washington Street, Wilmington, DE on August 8, 2021 at 2 pm.  Burial will be private.  Donations in his memory may be made at https://pathology.jhu.edu/donate for pancreatic cancer research, or Lost and Found Dog Rescue, rescuer of his beloved Jane Austen, at https://www.lnfdogs.org/. 

Online condolences may be made at:    www.omaddenfh.com.   Arrangements by the Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home  69-71 Maple Street Harpursville.  A MADDEN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME.

New York Obituary

Jack Parker White, age 89, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on May 30, 2021 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jack was born in Waterloo, Iowa on August 20, 1931 to Harry and Alma White. After a brief residence in Chicago, the family moved to Brooklyn, NY, where Jack won 2nd place in a Beautiful Baby Contest. Later, he graduated from Midwood High School and Brooklyn College with a degree in English. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-56 at the Pentagon. Following in the footsteps of his father, Jack studied to become a court stenographer while working at Gibbs & Cox in New York. In 1961, he became an official court reporter in the Superior Court in Wilmington. Later, he became a partner in Varallo, White & Wilcox, a freelance firm, and ended his career as a court reporter in the Court of Chancery.

For many years, Jack played a leadership role in the National Shorthand Reporters Association, providing seminars on various aspects of court reporting and writing articles for the NSRA journal. He and his father, Harry L. White, were the first father and son to win the National Merit Award for speed and accuracy on the same day.

A member of Grace United Methodist Church, Jack sang in the choir and played handbells for many years and headed up several committees, including Facilities Management, Finance, Art Initiative, and music director search committee.  He was one of the original members of the card ministry started in the early 2000s. Members of the group always found amusement in his many stories told around the card writing table.

Throughout his life, Jack was a passionate classical music fan who attended numerous concerts at Carnegie Hall, NY, Kennedy Center, Grand Opera House,  and the Philadelphia Academy of Music. He delighted his friends by playing the piano on countless occasions and showing photos of his many trips abroad. In the 1970s, Jack performed in many community theater productions in Wilmington, including 1776, Showboat, Wings, First Monday in October, Gigi, and Promises, Promises.

A devoted Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Jack had a lifelong passion for baseball and baseball statistics. His other interests included photography, travelling in the U.S. and abroad, and reading world history. His friends and family will remember him most for his wonderful sense of humor and his tall tales.

Jack was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Alma White of Elkton, MD, as well as his older brother, James. He is survived by his wife, Diane Olin White, whom he married in 1995; his daughters, Karen and Lori White from his first marriage; and his grandchildren, Marcy Ganoe, Marina McFarland, Adrienne Ganoe, and Connor McFarland.

A memorial service will be held at the Harpursville United Methodist Church on Fri. June 18, 2021 at 11 am.  Donations in his memory may be made at https://pathology.jhu.edu/donate for pancreatic cancer research, or Lost and Found Dog Rescue, rescuer of his beloved Jane Austen, at https://www.lnfdogs.org/.

A Celebration of his Life and Memorial Service will be held at the Grace United Methodist Church, 900 N Washington Street, Wilmington, DE on August 8, 2021 at 2 pm.  Burial will be private.  Donations in his memory may be made at https://pathology.jhu.edu/donate for pancreatic cancer research, or Lost and Found Dog Rescue, rescuer of his beloved Jane Austen, at https://www.lnfdogs.org/. 

Online condolences may be made at:   www.omaddenfh.com.  Arrangements by the Osterhoudt-Madden Funeral Home 69-71 Maple Street Harpursville.

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