Lifelong Greenport resident Kenneth E. White Jr. died Dec. 6 at his home. He was 73.
He was born Oct. 24, 1942, in Greenport to Edith (Kruk) and Kenneth White and graduated from Greenport High School in 1960.
On May 21, 1989, he married Jerri (née Burt) at Greenport Methodist Church in a ceremony performed by Jerri’s brother, Steve Burt.
Mr. White served for many years with local fire departments. He was a 40-year member of Greenport Fire Department, where he was firefighter of the year in 1996 and served as ex-warden, houseman for 10 years and chief from 2011 to 2012. During Mr. White’s service in Greenport, he was the chairman of fire prevention and was the main sponsor involved with Cole Bros. Circus, working to obtain funds for fire prevention. He also served as houseman/radio dispatcher for Cutchogue Fire Department and from 1989 to 1993, was a member of Shelter Island Fire Department.
He was an EMT for Shelter Island Red Cross Ambulance. a past Greenport school board member and a member of East End Seaport Museum and Maritime Museum.
Family members said he loved cooking, catering, parties, volunteering, fireworks, the circus and carnivals.
Predeceased by his son, Devin, Feb. 9, Mr. White is survived by his wife of 26 1/2 years, Jerri; his stepdaughter, Jennifer Curtin; his daughters, Donna Dunne, Cheryl Shepherd and Augusta White; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The family will receive visitors Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Horton-Mathie Funeral Home in Greenport, where service will take place at 3:30 p.m., officiated by Father Richard Hoerning. A 11 a.m. funeral mass will take place Thursday, Dec. 10, at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport, officiated by Father Tom. Interment will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.
Memorial donations may be made to Greenport Fire Department or East End Seaport and Maritime Museum.