Roderick M. White
Old Lyme — U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Roderick M. White departed this world March 11, 2020. He is survived by his wife Judith G. White; his daughter Priscilla W. Hallman; her son Nathan and his wife, Laura Fritz; her son, Wrenly and his partner Ellie Desautels; and her stepson Cavan, his wife Katie, and their son Dash; and his stepdaughter Jennifer Gorman and her husband Patrick and their children, Patrick, Daniel, and Quinn. Captain White was predeceased by his first wife Carol Mayer White, and their son David White.
Captain White was born in Springfield, Mass., to Norman and Marion White. Captain White graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1950. He served in the Mid and North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Antarctic. He received a Naval Engineer Degree in 1956 and a Doctor of Science Degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 1965 — both from MIT. In 1969, he was nationally recognized by the American Society of Naval Engineers with their award of the Gold Medal for his design of the “White Bow” for the S.S. Manhattan. He served as a professor of engineering for the United Coast Guard Academy from 1959 to 1974 and was appointed Dean of Academics from 1974 to 1983.
Captain White was an active member of the New England Association of Academic Evaluation Teams and ABET (Engineering and Technology). He consulted on the design of polar icebreakers at Coast Guard Headquarters and with the Canadian Parliament regarding the Northwest Passage and Ocean Systems Engineering. After he retired from the Coast Guard 1983, Captain White served as the executive director of the Coast Guard Foundation and later as the executive director of the Eastern Connecticut Foundation for Public Giving.
Captain White was a dedicated public and civic servant serving as the registrar of voters and on the Board of Education and Board of Assessments in the town of Old Lyme; as the president of the New London Rotarians; as a member of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Board, the Boy Scouts Long Range Planning Committee, the Citizens Advisory Committee for Old Lyme Schools, the Harbor Management Commission, “Mystic and More,” and the Republican Town Committee; and a supervisor of student teachers for the University of New Haven.
Captain White was lauded throughout his life for his dedication and excellence in service. The USCG Academy Class of 1984 dedicated their yearbook to him. He was awarded Distinguished Professor Emeritus by the Academy in 1999. Further in 2018, the town of Old Lyme recognized his commitment to the public and honored him as Citizen of the Year.
Captain White was a kind and gentle husband, a dedicated educator, an accomplished Coast Guard officer, and a people person at heart. He enjoyed sailing, golfing, and touring the east coast in his GMC motor home with his wife, Judy. He was honored, respected, and loved by those who knew him personally and knew of him reputationally. His departure from this earth will be our loss, but his legacy will live on through the many lives he has touched and spheres he has influenced.
A service will be held at the United States Coast Guard Chapel with an inurnment in the Columbarium at the academy. Services will be scheduled when the Academy re-opens. Please visit www. fultontherouxoldlyme.com for services updates and to request email notifications by clicking the “Receive Notifications” button from his webpage. Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home, Old Lyme, is handling the arrangements.