Daphne M. White

Daphne M. White
April 12, 1927 ~ January 1, 2007

Peterborough, New Hampshire – Daphne Milbank White, 79, died at her home at RiverMead on January 1, 2007.
Mrs. White was born on April 12, 1927, in Vancouver, British Columbia, the daughter of Mary (Lightfoot) and Robbins Milbank. Much of her youth was spent in Burlingame, California, on the Monterey Peninsula, and in Nelson, New Hampshire. She was a graduate of Smith College and received her M.S. in Public Affairs from American University.     
Her early married life was spent in Alaska, where she volunteered for Operation Statehood, and was one of a few writers of "A Constitution for the State of Alaska," a model Alaska constitution, along with a study and discussion guide distributed before the constitutional convention election. Her ad hoc business, political, and writing experience was gathered by pioneering the League of Women Voters in Anchorage, working at a local radio station, helping to manage numerous small businesses, chairing the World Affairs Council, and representing the U.S. at the International Conference of Girl Scout leaders – all while raising four children. 
She left Alaska in 1967 and moved to Washington, D.C., where she was a senior staff specialist for the League of Women Voters Education Fund, and later communications director for the Public Affairs Council. From 1975-1993, she worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as a paralegal specialist, policy analyst, fishery management specialist, writer and editor. She received four Outstanding Performance Awards while working at NOAA.   In 1990 she moved to Pacific Grove, California, and was the program specialist in creating the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. After her retirement in 1993, she remained active, volunteering at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Baynet, the Pacific Grove Museum, and the League of Women Voters.
Mrs. White traveled extensively with her children. Her career motivation was based on her love for her family, politics, arts, and the environment. It was important to her to share these interests and activities and instill a love of and responsibility for community and the planet to others.
   In 2004, she moved from Pacific Grove to New Hampshire to be closer to her family. She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Piccone of Clearwater, Florida; daughter Pamela White and son-in-law Warren Hammack of Nelson; daughter, Ellen White Levy, son-in-law Ron Levy, and
their children Colin, Alex, and Ethan of Lutherville, Maryland; and son, Barrie M. White, daughter-in-law Dee Ann Philip White, and their children Andrew and Emily of Bonney Lake, Washington. A brother, David L. Milbank, predeceased her.
Burial will be in Nelson Village Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at a future date. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Monadnock Music, 2A Concord Street, Peterborough, NH 03458, or to the Historic Harrisville Foundation, Mill Aly, Harrisville, NH 03450.
Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements.