Ralph P. White

North Hampton - We mourn our loss and celebrate the life of Ralph White, remembered for a life of love given and received, love of God, family, and country; a man who made and kept life-long friends and a man who laughed often and got others to laugh with him. Central in every aspect of his life was the desire to be of service - service to his country, his community, to the Alzheimer's Association, to Columbia University, and to mentoring leaders. Through all his accomplishments, he remained humble, that humility springing from a deep gratitude for the many blessings and opportunities he received. A sentimental man, he was known to tell stories about family, eyes filling with tears. He deeply loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and said while he had many professional accomplishments, the accomplishment he valued most was being a good father. Loyal son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, Ralph White leaves a legacy of love. Born in Watertown, MA, the son of Irving W. and Margaret (McGowan) White, he graduated from Westborough High School (MA) and Columbia University and did graduate work at Columbia and Yale. He attended Columbia on a football scholarship and credits Columbia with charting the course of his professional life. At Columbia, he was elected to Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society. Ralph married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Christie, in 1947 when he returned from WWII. He was an infantry officer, commissioned at 19, putting him among the youngest officers in the Army. He served a year in Germany in The Army of Occupation. Following his return, he restarted at Columbia while his wife took a responsible position in the Registrar's Office and was the main family breadwinner for the balance of Ralph's college years. Ralph served in many leadership positions in his career and was recognized as an industrial and civic leader. As President of Davidson Rubber Company of Dover, NH, Ralph led the company through a period of rapid and successful growth to a position as a world class supplier of molded plastic products in the automotive industry. He was promoted to Group Vice President of Ex-Cell-O Corporation, responsible for Davidson Rubber and three other divisions with ten manufacturing plants and 6,000 employees. He later served as Chairman and CEO of Troy Mills in Troy, NH. Before joining Davidson, he was a partner in the consulting firm of Bavier, Bulger and Goodyear and lived in Woodbury, CT. His early career included work on the development of computer applications for the control of manufacturing operations as a programmer, analyst and consultant. He developed many programs that shortened time necessary for manufacturing and inventory in industrial applications; he was an expert programmer in the early days of computer development. He also had an extensive record of public leadership, serving as President of the NH Business and Industry Association and served long terms on the NH Industrial Development Authority and the NH Business Finance Authority. Ralph served on the Executive Board of the Whittemore School of Business at the University of New Hampshire and on the board of the Community College in Stratham. As a member of the original Pease Development Authority, he provided effective leadership to the marketing activities of that board and was credited with playing a significant role in the Authority's successful conversion of Pease Air Force Base to civilian use. In addition, Ralph served on the board of directors for a series of companies including Strafford Savings Bank, Public Service Company of New Hampshire, Exeter Trust Company, Troy Mills, Inc, J.A. Wright Company, J.D. Cahill Company, and D.G. O'Brien Company. When Shirley developed Alzheimer's disease, Ralph used his leadership experience on the Alzheimer's Board of NH and MA, raising over $150,000 for Alzheimer's research. He lobbied NH Senators each year in Washington, DC to illicit support to eliminate the disease. But it was his patient approach to the disease and his skill at finding solutions to her difficulties that allowed her to live at home for many years. When she moved to a memory facility, he learned to play guitar at age 85 so Shirley and the other residents could have daily singing sessions. He brought joy to Shirley and all the residents. Ralph's life-long interest in sports started when he helped lead Westborough High School to its first state football championship in 1943. As a scholarship student at Columbia University, he was a key member of coach Lou Little's successful post-war teams and received an award from Columbia's president, General Dwight Eisenhower, as the top scholar on the football team. After college, he served many years as a prep school and college football official. In later years, he was active in tennis, golf, and especially skiing. He learned to ski in his 40's along with his then teenage children. Skiing became a family tradition, and his four grandchildren learned to ski at the family's ski house in Jackson, NH. Ralph was known in his hometown by his license plate which read, "SKI290," and he proved it to be true by skiing during his 90th year. Ralph is survived by two children, Karin White Ericson and her husband Dave of Isle la Motte, VT and Eric White and wife Jodi of St. Clair, MI. He also leaves four grandchildren and ten great grandchildren: Tim Ericson and his wife Marie and children Karina, Neil and Paul; Christie Ericson Boven and husband Tom Boven and children Lilly and Emma; Andrea White Porter and husband Caleb and children Colin, Jake and Stella; and Brian White and wife Kelly and sons Gus and Wes. He was predeceased by his wife Shirley of 64 years; his parents Irving and Margaret; his sister Betty; and countless beloved dogs. Visiting hours will be from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 at St. Theresa Church, 815 Central Road, Rye Beach (The mass can be viewed via livestream by clicking here). Burial will follow in the Center Cemetery North Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N Michigan Avenue, Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 or online by clicking here.

Ralph P. White

August 1, 1926 - April 10, 2025