Worcester – Dr. Francis Arthur White Jr., M.D., 90, of Worcester, died peacefully Tuesday, April 29, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, clergy and friends, at UMass Memorial. He left to join his childhood sweetheart and beloved wife, Alice Marie (Reilly) White, who predeceased him after 52 years of marriage.
Dr. White was born and raised in Springfield. He was the son of Francis A. White Sr. and Lorraine (Maroney) White. He was educated in Springfield Catholic schools and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1941. He was a Worcester and Shrewsbury resident for 56 years.
Dr. White attended St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vt.. During WW II, he enlisted in the Navy to become a Medical Officer, first with training at Bates College in Maine, then dental school at the University of Detroit, and duty at Chelsea Naval Hospital where he ultimately achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant.
After discharge, Dr. White returned to the University of Detroit where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1947. Dr. White earned his Medical Degree from Georgetown University in 1950 and interned in surgery and radiology at Worcester City Hospital 1951-1953. While an intern, Dr. White was on hand to provide emergency medical aid during the infamous Worcester tornado of June 9, 1953.
Called back to duty during the Korean War, he was attached to the Naval Medical Corp at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. After discharge, Dr. White entered a residency in radiology at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied under future U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
Following his residency, Dr. White returned to Worcester in 1958, as a founding partner of the Radiology Clinic. Dr. White was a pioneering medical doctor in the developing fields of radiology, oncology and nuclear medicine. Dr. White practiced for 37 years at Worcester County hospitals where he served as Chief of Radiology and past President of Worcester City Hospital. He also served as Chief of Radiology at Holden, Fairlawn and Harrington Hospital. Dr. White retired from the practice of medicine in 1994.
Professionally, Dr. White was a 50-year Fellow of the Worcester District of the Massachusetts Medical Society and a member of the American Board of Radiology.
Father of a special needs son, Kevin, he was a dedicated and active member of Seven Hills Foundation, where he served on its Board of Directors and Trustee, and served as Chair of the HMEA Human Rights Committee.
Dr. White was also a longtime member of St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, where he served as a lector. He was a member and past president of the Holy Cross Sodality. He was a member of Tatnuck Country Club where he achieved momentary fame by scoring a Hole-in-One on June 14, 1996 on the fifth hole of the golf course.
Upon his retirement, he devoted his time to family and charities delivering food as part of the Meals on Wheels program and a long time reader for the Audio Journal.
He was known affectionately as “Grandpa Doc.” He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and will be remembered for his charitable works and his love for his family and friends.
Dr. White was a thomistic philosopher, Oslerian disciple, and erstwhile golfer, with endless faith, devotion and love for God, Family, Church and Country.
He is survived and will be lovingly missed by his four sons, Paul White and his wife Suzanna of Haarlem, Amsterdam, Gregory White and his wife Beth of Boylston, Andrew White and his wife Valeria of Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kevin White of West Boylston; three daughters, Robin White of Worcester, Jane White of Webster, and Lisa White of St. Barts and New York City; nine grandchildren, Christopher, Jaclyn, Zachary, Kendra, Abigail, Polina, Etienne, Julian, and Ryan-Christopher; one great-grandchild, Dylan Shea; and a brother William White and his wife Pat of Harwich Port. Two sisters, Edna May (White) Santinello and Elinor (White) O”Malley, predeceased him.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours Sunday, May 4, from 3 – 7 p.m., at Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, May 5, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary's Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury. Private burial will take place at St. Thomas Cemetery in West Springfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HMEA, 8 Forge Park East, Franklin, MA 02038 or online www.hmea.org.
