DR. ROBERT ARTHUR WHITE

ROBERT WHITE Obituary

Name: Memorial service for DR. ROBERT ARTHUR WHITE
Start: 2017-11-04T15:00:00.000Z
Location: First Congregational Church

WHITE, Dr. Robert Arthur Passed peacefully from the living to the eternal on Sept. 30, 2017, in the presence of his loving family. He was cared for by the amazing staff at Valley Terrace in WRJ, VT. He remained to the end a true gentleman, an extraordinary musician, an avid outdoorsman, and a completely devoted husband and father.

He has now joined his lovely wife, Marilyn, his true love, musician, and enthusiastic spirit, who passed in 2016. His children, Robert White and Cynthia Wankowicz, and their families were truly blessed by Bob's kindness, gentle spirit, and twinkling personality. His grandchildren, Ania, and Jahn White, and Alex, Chris, and Gabby Wankowicz were all nurtured by his love, devotion, and sense of humor.

Graduate of New England Conservatory, Harvard, and BU, he was Professor extraordinaire at UMass Lowell, where he taught for 33 years. All his students benefitted from his creativity and passion for all genres of music. Fabulous Choir Director at the First Congregational Church in Winchester, he led the singers and bell choirs for 42 years in joyful song. He moved from his home town of Winchester, MA to White River Jct.,VT in 2013.

A Memorial service in his honor will be held at 11 a.m., 11/4/17, at the First Congregational Church in Winchester, MA, 21 Church St., Winchester, MA 01890.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Boston Globe from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for ROBERT WHITE

6 Entries

Karen (Estle) Peace

May 23, 2022

So many years since I was in your C.A.M. proof when I was in college around 1980. I don't know if anyone will read this now, so many years later. But it is late at night, and I lie awake thinking fondly of my time in your group when I was just 17 or 18 I think, and in college. Your spiritual, kind directorship ship was so precious to me. You encouraged me musically, let me write a little mini play for our performance, and showed me every kindness, which I really needed because my high school years and my home life had been very difficult for me. God bless your children - I hope they know how very lucky they have been know you. Out of all the music directors I've experienced, you were the kindness and most gentle director I I had met. You were still alive, and if you had been I would share with you that I wrote music, inspired so many years later, a Requiem for my mother which was performed by our local chamber orchestra of the springs. You encouraged and inspired me so that so many years after knowing you I still was able to write this. God bless you, I hope you are still making music in heaven. And I hope your children and grandchildren read this. If they ever want to contact me here is my phone number at the present - 719-246-8991 and I reside now in Colorado springs Colorado. And my website is www.soundclick.com/kepeaceusa

Lori Schraut (Cahoon)

June 27, 2020

Dr. White was an amazing musician and conductor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He taught me how to truly enjoy and appreciate the art of singing and sharing that art with others. He was also a kind and gentle soul. He will be truly missed.

Kathleen Molloy Nollet

November 2, 2018

Dr. White was an outstanding teacher, kind friend, and generous early music mentor to me and many other music students @ UMassLowell. My condolences to his family.

Dana Franchitto

November 4, 2017

My heart goes out to the Family of Dr. White. I am so indebted to him for his expanding my horizons in WEstern music from Josquin to HIndemith. He was also fun to talk to outside of class. I'll never gorget the "sogeto cavato" he creqated using my name. Thank you forever, Dr Robert White.

P Furlong

November 4, 2017

An amazing man, mentor, musician, and educator. I learnt so much from this man, about music and life. Whenever I travel over or through Innsbruck, I recall his smile, love of the music, and warmth as a conductor. He made me long for a place I had never been to and a place I didn't know I would long for later in life.
Godspeed, Dr White.

W. Redding

November 2, 2017

Bob and Marilyn White were amazing, amazing neighbors and friends to my family. I will always remember Bob's humor, optimism, boundless love of music (he hummed constantly as I was growing up) and most of all, his humility and humanity. I cannot emphasize enough how much the Whites influenced my childhood. I was the quiet, shy kid next door, so they probably had no idea how powerful their example was for me. I will forever remember and be grateful for the time Bob waltzed my giggling mother around our kitchen, on a day when we were mourning my father's decision to leave the family and marry someone else. A powerful lesson in resilience and support that made a difference for this child. Here's to you, Bob: 1-3-FIIIIIIIIIIVE, 4-3-2-1. ;-)

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