James C. White

James C. White, professor emeritus, Cornell University died on October 2, 2018 at his home on the lake in Ithaca NY, just short of his 102nd birthday. He was born October 29, 1916 in Scobey, Montana.

Professor White received his bachelor’s degree in 1939 and Ph.D. from Cornell University 1944 with a major in Bacteriology and minors in Biochemistry and Dairy Science. He spent two years as director of research for the Borden Cheese Company, returning to Cornell in 1946 as an associate professor in the Department of Dairy Industry. His responsibilities included teaching, research and extension. He became a full Professor in 1951. He was especially proud of the fact that he shook the hand of 11 of the 14 Cornell presidents!

After 27 years in the College of Agriculture, he moved to the Hotel School to teach food safety and sanitation and served as an assistant dean before finally retiring in 1983. He continued his active career working in the area of climate change and acid rain, editing and publishing 16 conference/proceedings.

Following his retirement, he spent his winters in Fort Myers, Florida. He was an avid tennis player, playing his last game at age 99. His love of international travel took him to Cuba and Nova Scotia this year!

Over a storied career, he served as president of the New York State Association for Food Protection (sanitarians); chairman of the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council; founding chair of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network; scientific adviser and director of the Center for Environmental Information in Rochester; founding president of the Mariposa DR Foundation in the Dominican Republic; and commodore of the Ithaca Yacht Club.

Dr. White was married to Ruth Babcock White (died in 1998). They had three children, James C. White, Jr.( Sonya) Deborah (Ray) Pavelka (died 2010) and Waldo (Loretta) White. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren: Betsy (James) Hanks, Victoria (Wilson) Spears, James C. White III, Amy Pavelka and Ashley White, in addition to the much loved great grandchildren Jacob, Katherine, Hadley and Cora.

Our special thanks to his neighbor Elizabeth Thorndike who made it possible for him to remain at his beloved lakefront home.

A memorial service will be held at a later date at the convenience of his family and friends.