BERNARD H. WHITE ’35
Bernard Hunter White, age 92, formerly of Radnor, a retired lawyer with General Electric’s Missile and Space Division in King of Prussia, died peacefully on Dec. 7 at the Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Mr. White had been very active in local politics as a Commissioner in Radnor Township from 1966-1974. As President of the Commissioners from 1968-1974, he was active in the “New Look” reform movement. He aimed for more transparency in the governance and opened up the meetings. He also encouraged the township to keep more Open Space and not let it become too urbanized. To that end, he persuaded the township to purchase the Willows and other tracts of land to turn them into parks.
In 1970, Mr. White ran a valiant campaign for Congress but he was up against the “War Board” and didn’t win.
In 1958, he and his wife placed an ad in the newspaper asking interested Unitarians to attend a meeting to form a new church on the Main Line. Their first meeting was attended by a handful of keen, enthusiastic talented people. The thriving Main Line Unitarian Church whose current membership numbers over 700 people with abundant and diverse activities for all is the result.
In 1989, he and his wife, Frances, founded PLAN, Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Pennsylvania, which serves people with mental disabilities and their families. They also helped found Torrey House where 15 people with mental disabilities are cared for including their daughter, Valerie. Both of these organizations offer great peace of mind to families afflicted by mental illness.
When Bernard and his wife moved to the Quadrangle, his leadership qualities were noticed and he was immediately recruited to be the President of the Quadrangle Residents’ Association. He served on numerous committees and always offered positive and clear opinion. He worked hard and did more than his share. He often offered legal advice pro bono. Besides baseball, his other passion was James Joyces’ Ulysses. He organized Ulysses study groups at Quadrangle.
Bernard White was born on January 29, 1914 in NYC and grew up in the Washington area attending the Force-Adams School, the Tome School in Maryland and Central High School in Washington. He was an Olin Scholar at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he majored in English and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was one of the three top scholars in the Class of 1935. He also earned 3 Varsity letters in baseball as 3rd baseman. His greatest achievement was in the 7th inning of a game against Amherst. “Bernie stepped to the plate, gave the ball a resounding whack which carried it somewhere in the direction of Northampton, and scampered merrily across the plate while the left fielder of the Jeffmen was still earnestly, but vainly, fielding the ball.” Baseball has always been his passion and he continued to support the Phillies although occasionally despairing over their performances!
He continued his studies at Harvard Law School, Class of 1938. He worked for the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton and Lumbard in Washington, DC and NYC.
While in NYC, he was part of the NY National Guard, Squadron A in1939-40. When it was “federalized”, he went on active duty in the US Army in January 1941.
His military career included the 101st Cavalry Regiment and then the 27th Infantry Division where he rose from 2nd lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant and finally as Captain of the 249th FA Bn.
Because of his connection with General Donovan’s law firm, he was asked to join the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in 1944-45.After the war, he returned to practicing law and soon worked for General Electric in 1948 until 1977 when he retired. He then opened a private practice in Wayne until 1993.
Bernard married Frances Salmon in 1947 and they would have been celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on March 15, 2007. She was “the greatest thing that ever happened to me” he would frequently tell people.
He is survived by 3 daughters: Valerie S. White of Haverford, Barbara White Waterman of Ramsey, N.J. and Carolyn White-Lesieur of Paris, France and 5 grandchildren: Elizabeth and Hunter Waterman and Jonathan, Nicholas and Geraldine Lesieur.
His Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 11AM at the Main Line Unitarian Church, 816 South Valley Forge Rd., Devon, PA. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests that contribution be made in his memory to CareLink Community Support Services for the benefit of Torrey House, Development Dept., 1510 Chester Pike, Suite 600, Eddystone, PA 19022
Carolyn White-Lesieur
11, rue Francois Millet
75016 Paris FRANCE
Tel : 33-1-53-92-08-52
Email: CWLPARIS@gmail.com
- Tel in the USA : cell : 1-917-375-1980