THOMAS J. WHITE

Thomas J. White, 89, of St. Petersburg, FL, formerly of Schenectady, died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at the Lexington Health and Rehabilitation Center in St. Petersburg, FL. Tom was born in Amsterdam, NY on March 26, 1921, the son of James F. and Loretto (Sullivan) White. He graduated from Mont Pleasant High School in 1940. He served in the United States Army during World War II as a trombonist in the Army Band. He married Marilyn Collins on April 22, 1946. He was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service until his retirement in 1972. He then became the circulation manager for the Schenectady Gazette in Saratoga Springs. Upon his retirement from the Gazette in 1982, he moved to St. Petersburg, FL. Tom is survived by Marilyn, his loving wife of 64 years; three sons and their wives, Dr. T. Michael and Jackie White of Hagarstown, MD, Robert and Peg White of Toms River, NJ, and Timothy and Melinda White of Orlando, FL; one daughter, Julie Bombard and her husband, Gregory of Winter Haven, FL; 11 grandchildren, Benjamin (Lela) White, Jessica (Jack) Jeziorski, Catherine (Brian) Crevella, Colin White, Jason (Jenelle) Bombard, Kristin Bombard, Caitlin White, Jennifer White, Brian (Kelly) White, Melissa White, and Wesley White; nine great-grandchildren, Nick, Alexandra, Madeline, and Elijah White, William and Thomas Jeziorski; Erin and Ryan Bombard, and Jeter White; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. Tom was predeceased by his parents and his brother, James J. White. Tom was an accomplished trombonist. He was a member of both the Schenectady and Albany Musicians Unions. He frequently performed with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra and often marched in bands in local parades. In Florida, Tom devoted his retirement days to playing his trombone as often as possible. Adept in all genres of music, he will be best remembered for his jazz scats and vocals as the leader of the Tom White Orchestra. Funeral services are being handled by the National Cremation Society. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church in St. Petersburg, FL, on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. Burial with full military honors will take place at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, FL, on Monday, Nov. 1 at 10:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Boulevard, Clearwater, FL 33760.