Obituary of Richard L. White

Richard L. White, 81, of Cedar Knolls, NJ died on June 16, 2021 of complications from multiple myeloma for which he was diagnosed in 2016. Earlier Dick had arranged with Rutgers Medical School to contribute his body for use by medical students. His remains will be cremated and returned to his family for final disposition. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Church in Cedar Knolls at 10:00 AM on June 30th. Dick is survived by his wife Debbie (Polise); his three children Michael (Jeanette), Moira and Jonathan, his grandchild Moira’s daughter Brynn (Scott) and his former wife Patricia (Peters). His father and mother, William and Winifred (Hanlon) as well as his brothers, Bill and Louis, predeceased him. Dick is also survived by many nieces and nephews. His family and his friends who joined him on his journey here in the Earthly Kingdom continued to buoy him throughout his life. There are too many stories and too many characters (normal and odd [not him he maintained]) to list. These connections made it worthwhile during his college and graduate school years at Seton Hall University and Columbia Business School, the time on welfare (GI Bill), the days at Arthur Young & Company where he obtained the CPA designation and practiced as an Audit Manager in that firm, to Crum and Forster (SVP and Controller), to Skandia American Corporation (CFO and SVP), to the forensic accounting firm of Wailoo & White, and finally as Deputy Liquidator for the liquidation of Integrity Insurance Co. Dick also worked as an arbitrator and umpire of insurance and reinsurance disputes for the ARIAS-US arbitration society for which he served as Treasurer from 1999 to 2006. As satisfying and rewarding as each of these positions has been, all must stand behind his five years in the U.S. Marine Corps where his terminal rank was Captain. So, he wished to join his voice with that anonymous Marine who wrote, “To all those that have worn the Eagle, Globe & Anchor, to those who answered the call to duty with courage, dedication and unbounded resolve, I am so very proud to serve with you as a U.S. Marine.” Since his retirement in 2016 Dick traveled to Delray Beach, FL and discovered Pickleball. Even with his recent sickness he could be seen in his driveway practicing various “dink” shots with the use of a rebounder device. His hope was that the young and old take up this wonderful game. In 2013 Dick traveled to the French foothills of the Pyrenees and proceeded to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela a 500 mile trek over the Pyrenees in northern Spain. After a brief rest in Santiago, Dick continued west for another 90 miles to Finisterre, thought to be the “end of the world” in the Middle Ages. Going west caused Dick to miss the compostela. Now he looks forward to walking with his Friend and Brother, Jesus Christ through this field of angels (“campus stellae”) to the Heavenly Kingdom. Arrangements are entrusted with Dangler Funeral Home, Morris Plains.