Gareth “Gary” Jonathan White was born April 3, 1953, in Throggs Neck, Bronx, New York. He passed away at home on December 9, 2020. He was the beloved son of Patrick “Jerry” White, a New York-born Marine, and Joan James of Bristol, England. He was the fourth of nine children. Gary attended St. Frances De Chantal elementary, New Rochelle High School, Iona College, and completed graduate work at Pace University and New York University. At Iona College, he met Mary Anne Raftery, his future wife—they married in 1983 in the middle of a blizzard. Together they shared passions for camping, cross-country road trips, and spending time at their home upstate in Saugerties, New York.
Gary worked as an accountant, memorably with American cable provider Bresnan Communications in the 1990s, and for the City of Mount Vernon for over a decade. He was devoted to the cause of anti-corruption and was a key witness in several federal corruption cases.
Both the generosity of his heart and his humor were larger than life. He possessed an abiding sense of curiosity and a profound love of nature. Some of his fondest memories were times spent in the Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park in Montana, the Teton Mountains in Wyoming, and in the quiet majesty of the Hudson Valley. “Kids, look at the mountains!” was his most famous refrain. This summer he traveled to Acadia National Park in Maine for the first time and was wonderstruck by its beauty.
He loved books about history, PBS, reruns of Seinfeld, the Beatles, a good conversation about politics, and even, on occasion, a trip to the museum. Nothing pleased him more than a good cup of coffee, a simple diner breakfast, and, in the summer, a trip to Jones Beach with his three kids. He was the kind of person you called up with any stray thought or funny story. Every Christmas, he was sure to watch It’s a Wonderful Life (like Jimmy Stewart’s character George Bailey, he too had a bad ear) and cook up some of his famed Swedish meatballs.
He is survived by his fiercely loyal wife Mary Anne and his three loving children Michael Patrick White, Kathleen Nora White, and Daniel James White, along with his adoring daughter-in-law Eunji Jeong White, his daughter’s partner Austin Kaa, and his precious granddaughter Ava Jia White. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Edward White, and his loving Uncles Raymond and Rob White. He was roundly adored by his brothers and sisters and is survived by his siblings Michael and his wife Nancy, Christopher, Deborah and her husband Michael Orifici, Pamela, Marion and her husband David McConnell, David, and William and his wife Małgorzata. He is dearly missed by his wife’s family of Nonie and Kevin Salter, Patty and Jack McNulty, Michael Raftery, Kate Raftery and her partner Harvey Lannak. His mother-in-law Eleanor Raftery, who passed away in 2006, was one of his dearest friends.
Gary was the uncle and great-uncle to so many whom he cherished including his late and deeply loved nephews Micah Orifici and Christopher John White. He is survived by his nieces and nephews Jesse White, Noah White, Sipca White, Matthew Orifici, Heather White, Travis White, Bryden White, Ryan White, Halina White, Lillian White, Sophia McConnell, Mimi McConnell, Lei McConnell, Emmy Lucia McConnell, Keira McConnell, Anna McNulty, Jack McNulty, Julia McNulty, and Emma McNulty. He loved the spirit of youth and adored his children’s many friends. His tremendous heart, bubbly humor, and depth of empathy will guide his family for ages. He remains the truest and dearest friend to all. As his son Daniel once joked “Dad—the man, the myth, the legend.
Funeral Services will be private
