Athlete, Beloved Coach

WHITE, Donald R.

Donald Richard White, 85, of Bedford, MA and formerly Groveland, MA, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2024, at his home. He was born in Haverhill, MA on October 3, 1938, son of Maynard H. and Agnes L. (Akeroyd) White.

In his final moments, the former University of Notre Dame quarterback called a “4th-and-1” goal line audible ... #6, his number. He leapt over the top of the line and soared mercifully into the Kingdom of God – scoring a final touchdown. Heaven’s playground just got a lot more fun.

Don grew up on Brookline Avenue in Haverhill and spent his youth playing sports at Walnut Square Elementary School. His father, Maynard, with legendary “working man’s mitts,” taught him the value of hard work; his mother, Agnes, a gregarious free spirit, gifted him his buoyant personality and infectious smile. Don went to Haverhill High School and was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, he received The Boston Globe and Boston Herald AllScholastic honors for all three sports.

In 1955, Don led the Haverhill “Hillies” to victory in the

Massachusetts Football State Championships. He accepted a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, where he played quarterback for the Fighting Irish from 1956 to 1960. His pride and passion for his alma mater was obvious until the end: wearing Notre Dame clothing and belting out rousing renditions of “Here Come the Irish” and “Wake Up the Echoes” were daily rituals.

After graduating from Notre Dame, Don married Maureen Linnehan and they were blessed with four children: Geralyn, Kevin, Brian, and Christopher. Family and friends, teaching and coaching, food and fight songs were constants in Don’s life. He loved coaching Little League baseball and driving his gold ‘72 Plymouth Sebring Plus with Arlo Guthrie’s City of New Orleans, any Beatles song or Simon and Garfunkel song blasting from his 8-track player. In the “cooking arena,” Don will always be remembered for his masterfully smoked turkeys, gourmet “Donnie Burgers,” and his legendary football tailgates.

Professionally, Don was a lifelong teacher (history, social studies, and current affairs) and coach (football, golf, and girls’ softball) at Timberlane, Lynn Classical, and Belmont High Schools. He enjoyed developing relationships with his students, which led to his perfecting Mrs. Manfredi’s meatball recipe and two generations of dogs named Muzzi, after Dante Muzzioli, a student, coach, and friend.

During his retirement, Don worked in many capacities at the Patriot Golf Course in Bedford, MA. His love of sport, community, and camaraderie made his work at Patriot a twentyyear match made in Heaven. Golfers referred to him lovingly as “Coach” and he cherished the many friendships he made from this partnership.

Don and his wife, Claire, shared forty-two years of marriage and many interests. They both loved clothes -- and Don became the family haberdasher and fashion critic. They also loved cocktail hour and horsd’oeuvres, home-cooked meals, roaring fires in the winter, Maine beaches in the summer, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Don lived a wonderful life and was known by many names. His teammates at Notre Dame knew him as “Hot Dog.” His students knew him as “Mighty Whitey,” “Notre Dame Donnie,” and “Don Juan.” His players knew him as “Coach,” and the outpouring of love from former players is testament to his character as a man, teacher, and coach. His grandchildren knew him as “Pappy” — they eagerly awaited his trademark bear-hug greeting and the annual White Family Whiffle Ball Game in Maine, when he masterfully pitched for both teams. His children called him “Dad.”

The thread that ties these nicknames together is people. Don White was a people-person who thought everyone was ”terrific,” and people loved Don White. The most impactful lesson he taught his children was, “The Human Touch Always Wins.” May we embrace his legacy and aspire to touch as many lives as “Coach-Hot Dog-Pappy” Donald Richard White.

Donald is survived by his loving wife, Claire E. Austin White; and his four children: Geralyn A. Dreyfous of Salt Lake City, UT, Kevin D. White and his wife Anne R. Giordano of Ridgefield, CT, Brian J. White and his wife Salli of Bowling Green, OH, and Christopher M. White and his wife Angel of Memphis, TN. He is also survived by his two brothers, Gerald P. “Gerry” White and his wife Ann of Bradford, MA and Maynard C. “Chuck” White and his wife Darla of Jacksonville,

FL. He was the loving Pappy to 10 grandchildren: John “Jake” Dreyfous, McKarah Dreyfous, Jarrett G. White, Aubrey G. White, Gavin G. White, Tessa G. White, Cassi White, Jackson White, Payton White and Riley White. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.

Visiting Hours: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Calling Hours on Friday, April 26th, from 4-6PM in the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 210 South Main Street, BRADFORD, MA. The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, April 27th, at 10:30 AM in the Sacred Heart Parish, 165 South Main Street, Bradford, MA. Interment will follow at the Riverview Cemetery, Groveland, MA.

For all contributions, please consider The Coach ‘N the Kids Foundation,

Inc., a newly formed 501(c)(3) nonprofit, established to honor Don

White’s legacy as a coach by providing grants to deserving high school coaches across the United States, allowing them to continue doing what they love most … coach kids. Donations can be sent to counsel for the charitable fund, Ronald W. Dunbar, Jr., Esquire, Dunbar Law, PC, 10 Post Office Square, Suite 800, Boston, MA 02109. H.L. Farmer & Sons Bradford~Haverhill www.farmerfuneralhomes.com