PORTLAND — Sheldon E. “Whitey” White, 73, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, at Maine Medical Center, with family by his side.

A people person, through and through, he enjoyed his children, grandchildren, local and national sports, and what he considered “the best retirement job,” as a shuttle driver for Morong Falmouth. Always positive, yet not afraid to express his opinion, he was a natural connector.

Whitey was born in Bangor on January 13, 1944, to Herbert and Marie Corey White. As a child, he enjoyed spending summers at the family camp on Holbrook Pond with his parents and boxer, Budgie. A graduate of Bangor High School, Class of 1962, he was active in arts, sports, academics and leadership. Whitey participated in band and chorus and managed the junior-varsity and varsity basketball teams. He attended the All-State Music Festival and Boy’s State, served on the student council, and earned a National Merit Scholarship. In 2012, he coordinated his class’s highly successful 50th reunion.

A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, he spent many years working in advertising and sales within the radio industry, and, later, as an insurance claims adjuster. His real passions were family, friends and sports. In 1980, as the founder of Tennis Intermediates of Maine, an adult competitive tennis league, he made an expansive network of close friends for life and, for many years, was known among the players as “Father TIME.” He also religiously followed professional tennis, golf, baseball and football, especially the Red Sox and New England Patriots.

Known as “Gumpy” by his grandchildren, he was very proud to support their interests and enjoyed swimming, board games, jigsaw puzzles and crosswords. A foodie who appreciated fine dining, Whitey, incidentally, relished Pat’s Pepperoni Pizza and a juicy burger.

He is sadly missed and survived by his wife of 33 years, Paula; his son, Sean and wife, Carrie and children, Chloe and Kaydence; his daughter, Kristin McGough, and her children, Riley and Keegan; his stepson, Christian Durgin and wife, Jennifer, and their children, Geneva and Sam; and stepdaughter, Abby Jacobs and husband, Daniel, and their children, Hope and Vincent.

His family extends heartfelt thanks for the expert and loving care he received through the New England Cancer Center and in his final days at Maine Medical Center on the Gibson Pavilion and in the Special Care Unit. They wish to thank his doctors and especially his nurses, Salena, Tony, Bobbi, Jillian, Nicole and Karen.

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