George C. White honored by order of knighthood

George Cooke White of Waterford was recently honored with a promotion to Grand Officer in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, a historic order of knighthood and chivalry awarded by the Royal House of Savoy.

His promotion was recognized at an investiture ceremony presided by His Royal Highness Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, who represented his father, H.R.H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, the current Grand Master of the Order, on Dec. 17, 2022, in New York City during his attendance at the annual Royal Savoy Ball hosted by the American Foundation of Savoy Orders. The honor was presented on Jan. 21, 2023, at a private luncheon at the White residence by the Delegate of the American Delegation of Savoy Orders and President of the American Foundation of the Savoy Orders, Knight Grand Cross Joseph Sciame.

The American Delegation of Savoy Orders is one among 35 delegations of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy located throughout Europe, Japan, and the Americas. Since 1993, the charitable organization of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders has provided charitable donations in excess of $1.5 million to numerous charitable causes.

Sciame stated: “We of the Orders of Savoy have known and had great respect for George White over the many years of his membership as a Knight in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, but this particular honor brings even greater recognition as to his lifetime achievements, his constant generosity to our Orders’ charitable endeavors and his constant fraternal standing. This was and is an honor and promotion in our Orders that was so very much deserved.”

The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy are among the oldest orders of chivalry in the world, having marked its 450th anniversary in 2022.