The Village of Greenport suffered a tremendous loss this week.
Bob White died at his Greenport home on Wednesday at age 90.
“He was a mainstay, a ‘Mr. Greenport’ kind of guy,” said Greenport Mayor George Hubbard Jr. “If you needed to know anything about Greenport you’d call Bob White and he could tell you where it happened, when it happened, who owned what building.”
White was a 70-year member and ex-chief of the Greenport Fire Department and a former village trustee.
Born in Greenport on March 2, 1926, White graduated from Greenport High School and entered the U.S. Army at age 18. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, serving under General Patton’s command. When he returned to Greenport at age 20, he went to work in his family’s hardware store on Main Street. He would own the store, White’s Hardware, for 46 years until his retirement.
White was active in the community. He served as treasurer of the Stirling Historical Society for 33 years, was a Railroad Museum of Long Island board member, treasurer for the American Legion restoration fund, and board member of Eastern Long Island Hospital and Floyd Memorial Library. In 2016 he was Grand Marshal of Greenport’s Washington’s Day parade.
His daughter Marilyn White Corwin of Greenport remembers him as a family man first and foremost, but civic-minded and very active in the village.
“When he retired we were afraid that he wouldn’t know what to do with himself,” Corwin recalls. “But he was so busy we could never get in touch with him. At least when he was at the hardware store we knew where to find him.”
It was his dream to restore the American Legion hall to its former glory, Corwin said.
Hubbard, who knew White most of his life, remembers him as a highly respected member of the community. He served with White in Greenport Fire Department’s Relief Hose Company since 1977 and recalls White’s vast knowledge of the department.
“When you needed to know something about the fire department he was the one you’d go to. He was the chief driver of our truck for over 30 years; he trained all the people who drove the truck.”
“He was a good father, a good man,” Corwin said. “His mind was sharp up until the very end. We were so blessed.”
Predeceased by his wife Lillian, White is survived by sons Robert Jr. of Hayes, Virginia and David of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, as well as by his daughter Marilyn White Corwin of Greenport, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
The family will receive visitors on Friday, Dec. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport. A 10 a.m. funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, Dec. 31 at St. Agnes R.R. Church in Greenport, followed by a private cremation.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion Building Fund, P.O. Box 103, Greenport, NY 11944.
