John I White

John I White a.k.a. JACK passed from this life to the next on January 23, from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.  We are grateful that our grandson, Ben, was with him when he passed at about 4:30am.  We are grateful for all the family and friends’ love that has surrounded Jack and our family.  We are relieved that he is at peace and the torment of terrifying hallucinations that he was experiencing is over. 

Jack is predeceased by his parents, Richard and Edith (Couch) White. Jack is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ruth Ann (Johnson), and his three sons, the Rev John R. White, his wife, Sarah, of Dudley MA, Jim White and his wife Tanya, of Whitefield NH, and Bill White, and his wife, Renee, of Leominster MA. Jack’s younger sister Janet Fox of Hampton NH and her two children. Jack has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He deeply loved his whole family.

Jack was born in Lunenburg on January 17, 1938, in Fitchburg, MA.  He grew up on his family’s farm on White Street in Lunenburg learning self-discipline and the value of hard work. He talked about being the sole farm hand from age 8 while his dad worked at Simonds. He graduated from Lunenburg High School as president of his class. He graduated from Wentworth Institute to become an architect. He realized that he would rather work with people than sit at a drafting board for hours, so he matriculated to Fitchburg State College.  He then earned a master’s degree+60 in Guidance Counseling and School Administration. Under the mentorship of Margaret Harley, he started the elementary counseling program in Lunenburg.  Monty Tech later hired him to be their recruiter of new students, soon after the school opened.   He developed a program that sent school buses out to the participating towns and brought students in to experience Monty Tech firsthand. It was such a successful program, it is still being used.

While at Monty Tech a friend interested him in selling real estate part time, which he did for several years, as well as teaching real estate classes and pursuing commercial real estate. He decided to leave guidance counseling to open his own office with his partner, Carolyn Porter, called the Hearthstone Agency.  Jack was known for his honesty and willingness to guide people, even if it was not for his own profit.  After the 2008 recession he returned to counseling at Varnum Brook Middle School from which he retired after 9 years. 

In partnership with his long-time friend, Lynn Sallee, Jack developed his family‘s farmland rather than sell it off to what might become another big box store. He wanted to create something that his family and Lunenburg could be proud of. It started with eighteen single-family homes. They then developed two “over 55” communities crafted with the same care and quality as the luxury homes. They are all handicapped accessible in every way.  Folks say they love living there and are grateful to Jack for building their homes. 

Jack was continually active in the United Parish of Lunenburg for over 50 years. The teens who knew him as their youth leader still talk about how the values clarification discussions that he led deeply affected them and guided their whole life decisions. He held every position of responsibility in the church and sang in the choir.  After he retired, he used his energy to bring inmates from Worcester who painted the entire interior of the Parish House and the Sanctuary.  The men were willing to come back repeatedly because of the wonderful meals Jack got volunteers to donate as well as the fact that Jack worked alongside them. They said no one had ever done that with them before. It was just one example of how Jack lived the value of shared dignity. 

To everyone who knew Jack he was known as a listener, a guide, a mentor, someone who could be depended upon, and a sensitive and caring person. Several of his friends called him “their rock“. His empathy and compassion were an example to all who knew him and he will be sorely missed. 

The last years of Jack’s life were a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. But even through that time he continued to be his caring, thoughtful self, always looking for ways to help a neighbor or his family. His son’s dog, Ginny, was his soulmate and they brought each other great joy.  When Ginny visited the nursing home, she would give him kisses and he would hold her tightly to his chest.

We are deeply grateful to the staff at Life Care of Nashoba in Littleton.  They were sensitive, responsive, and outstanding in their care of Jack. Five stars+.  Prior to the nursing home Jack developed aspiration pneumonia and was in UMass Memorial Hospital, Leominster, where he received compassionate and attentive care.

Services under the direction of Stephen Moorcroft will be held with calling hours on Friday January 30 from 4 until 6 pm in the Lavery ,Chartrand, Alario Funeral Home, 99 Summer St. Fitchburg.  https://www.lcafh.com

A service celebrating Jack’s life will be Saturday, January 31, at 11:00am at the United Parish of Lunenburg.

In lieu of opening the floor for speaking at the Celebration of Life we’re asking that memories of Jack be mailed to the family at:

Ruth Ann White

P.O. Box 26

Lunenburg, MA 01462

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Memorial Fund at the United Parish of Lunenburg, 16 Main St, Lunenburg, MA 01462 OR to the Alzheimer’s Association.