John Kennedy White

John K. White John White taught in Portland Public Schools for three decades then spent nearly as long as a community volunteer based in Milwaukie. A man of deep Catholic faith, he found joy in helping others and was ready with a hearty laugh that could fill any room. An accomplished ballroom dancer, he loved to dance, sing, meet new people and spend time in the company of friends. He drew strength and meaning from worshiping and serving with fellow believers in Christ. John Kennedy White was born June 3, 1935 to Percy and Agnes White. He attended Kennedy School – now a McMenamins property – which was named for his grandfather. He had many adventures growing up with his big sister Sheila and little brother Bernie. John graduated from Central Catholic High and earned his teaching degree from the University of Portland in 1958. In addition to his three decades as an elementary teacher at Highland, Boise, Vernon and other Portland schools, he taught military employees’ children on Okinawa and in Germany and Italy. He was active at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where he was known as a “master greeter” and tried to know everyone by name. He taught confirmation classes at Holy Rosary Catholic Church for more than 15 years. He was active in the Third Order Dominicans and St. John the Baptist’s Fatima prayer group. He was a member of the Milwaukie Elks, where he spent many happy evenings ballroom dancing with friends. He won a statewide award for Viennese Waltz and was a longtime member of the Laurelhurst Dance Club. John, along with his wife Kathy Rhodes White, spent 10 years on stage with the Northwest Senior Theater, where John shined as a song and dance man. He lived for many years in a home on the Willamette River with his dog, cats and birds. At all times, he loved a frosty-cold root beer float. Among the many groups he volunteered for: Meals on Wheels, St. Vincent de Paul and Portland Community College. John loved to travel, particularly when it involved hiking, skiing or mountain climbing. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sheila White Abish. John is survived by his brother Bernie and Bernie’s wife Linda of Ames, Iowa; his niece Betsy Hammond of Portland, her husband Stephen and their children, Joseph and William; and his nephew Greg White of Boulder and his wife Kerry and their son, Jackson. A funeral mass was scheduled to be celebrated on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Milwaukie. John requested that any memorial contributions to St. John the Baptist Church or its St. Vincent de Paul chapter. He is to be buried at Mount Calvary Cemetary, where his parents, his sister, his grandfather for whom he was named and others in generations before him also lie at rest.