Obituary of James H. White

CELEBRATION LIVESTREAM HERE

Orono - James Howard White, 80, passed away December 16, 2024 as a result of complications from heart disease and diabetes. Jim was born in Bangor, April 7, 1944 to Kathryn (Chandler) and Howard White.

Jim graduated from Brewer HS in 1962. He went on to the University of Maine graduating with a BA Degree in Public Management in 1966, a Master’s Degree as a Principal in 1975 and a CAS in Superintendent of Schools in 1978. Jim spent forty years as an educator. He taught one year at Garland St. JH (now Cohen School) in Bangor, eighteen years at Brewer HS and then was Principal of Center Drive School in Orrington for twenty one years. In 2005 he was selected as Maine’s Middle School Principal of the Year.

Jim married the love of his life, Ency Anne Whitehill on July 26, 1997. Jim and Ency were avid rock and mineral collectors traveling many years to the Parrsboro and Cape Blomidon areas in Nova Scotia, and numerous other collecting sites in western Maine and the western United States. They enjoyed attending the world’s largest gem and mineral show in Tucson, AZ a number of times. After “retirement,” they established the business of Rocks, Minerals & More and participated in many craft fairs and rocks shows for a number of years. They both enjoyed the years participating in the Penobscot Mineral & Lapidary Club and Annual Show. They very much appreciated the rock and mineral mentoring, many trips and adventures with close friends Gary Howard of Bath and Alvin Theriault of Stacyville.

Jim was well regarded for his abilities in baseball and basketball during his playing days at Brewer HS. He was president of his class for two years. He very much enjoyed working with his class reunion committee and classmates during their class reunions over fifty years. He also really enjoyed working with others to help facilitate various innovative programs and new activities. Examples include the following: As a teacher and class adviser at BHS changing the traditional Junior Exhibition speaking program of about eight students to Junior Exhibition of Talent involving about 150 students. He helped to found the Brewer American Legion Baseball in 1985 so that more Brewer players would get an opportunity to develop their talents. As Principal of Center Drive School he enjoyed supporting programs such as the Innovative Maine Studies, Exchanging Maine’s Cultures and Champion International Professional Development. During retirement, he was a member of the Danny Coombs Brewer Bicentennial Athlete event, the Charlie Heddericg Memorial Plaque & Monument, and the Brewer High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee. Jim was very active with the Maine Principals Association serving on many committees over the years. He treasured the many Tuesday mornings with the breakfast group of retirees, as well as, the special golf and lunch group of guys on Wednesdays.

Jim and Ency met on the carriage roads in Acadia National Park on September 21, 1996. They continued to enjoy the carriage roads for many years, as well as, their travels to Europe, especially Switzerland and Norway among other countries, and trips and exploration of many mining sites all around the United States and Nova Scotia.

Jim is survived by the love of his life and soul mate, Ency A. Whitehill of Orono, three sons, Robbie White, Chad White and wife Michelle, and Jamie White and partner Teri Lippincott, all of Bangor, the boy’s mother Diana Cameron of Phoenix, AZ; step children, Encyeh Tadayyon and husband, Dan Keller of Smithfield, Maine, Lily Kregenow of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Shahram Tadayon and Laura of Austin, Texas; a sister, Judy Bean and husband Curt of Plymouth, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Jessica and Kelsey White of Bangor, Brittaney White of Carmel, Gwen White of Orrington, step-grandchildren Sage, Reed and Leif Kregenow of Gig Harbor, WA Grant and Lila Tadayon and Henry Garlock of Austin, TX., nephew Ryan Bean of Hampden, CT. and niece Kacy (Bean) Viles of Quincy, MA, along with a number of cousins, especially the Chandler crew.

He was predeceased by his parents Howard and Kay White, brothers Dennis White and Robert M. White and several aunts and uncles.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM at the Brewer Community School Performing Arts Center, 92 Pendleton Street, Brewer, Maine. Reception with light refreshments to follow. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and can be accessed HERE .

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either the Brewer High School, Athletic Hall of Fame, 79 Parkway South, Brewer, Maine 04412 or to the Activities Fund at Center Drive School, 17 School St. Orrington, Maine 04474.