Emerson White

LEOMINSTER -- Emerson A. White, 94, a resident of the LifeCare Center of Leominster, formerly of 100 Willow St., died Sunday, Sept. 23, after a long illness.

He was born in Winchendon on March 16, 1913, the son of the late Hollis I. and Mary (Cook) White, and moved to Leominster in 1941.

Mr. White managed A&P Supermarkets in Leominster, Fitchburg and Winchendon during a 44-year career with the company, retiring in 1974. He was a well-known local businessman and avid golfer, sports fisherman and hunter. He was a former member of The Leominster Sportsman’s Association, The Lion’s Club, The MBA Association and Westminster Country Club, where he was a leading senior golfer for nearly 20 years. He began his love for golf at the age of 8, as a caddy at Winchendon’s Toy Town Golf Course, and caddied for such luminaries as John D. Rockefeller and Bobby Burns. In his 20s, he had become a champion amateur golfer, winning tournaments throughout Massachusetts.

He was predeceased by his wife, Alice B. (Pinkowska) White, who died in 2001. He leaves three sons, E. Donald White of Ipswich and Port Charlotte, Fla., Richard B. White of Leominster, Gary C. White of East Longmeadow and Port Charlotte, Fla.; a sister, Shirley Sawyer of Winchendon; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren; several nephews and nieces.

WHITE -- The funeral will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, from The Curley-Marchand Funeral Home, 89 West St., Leominster, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Leo’s Church, 108 Main St., Leominster. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The St. Leo’s Parish Capital Improvements Fund, 108 Main St., Leominster, MA 01453, and may be left at the funeral home.