Wayne Erving White

Wayne Erving White, 87, of Newark, DE, entered into God’s kingdom on March 27, 2023.  He was born in 1935, to Erving & Margaret White, in Baltimore, MD.

Wayne, the most loving and devoted friend are survived by his longtime partner/companion and best friend John; sister, Catherine with her two children Chris & Carrie; his half-sister Cindy; many cousins and his faithful dog Yoshi.

Upon graduation from Loyola College in Baltimore, where he was one of the few selected to appear in the 1955-1956 Edition of, ‘Who’s Who Among Students In American University an Colleges’ where he received a prestige scholarship to continue his post graduate study anywhere around the world.  He chose to study in France to major in Philosophy/Theology.  He pursued his study in a monastery, as a monk, in France.

Feeling obligated to pursue his love in Philosophy, Wayne returned back to the US to complete his PhD while he taught Philosophy as a professor in Georgetown University.  After a few years of teaching, Wayne found his new passion in Theater and Arts.  He left teaching to work at Arena Stage in Washington DC where he became the Theater Operations Director there.

Wayne had the personality and natural charisma to make friends no matter the situation, and his laugh was infectious to everyone around him.  He is a man of many stories, all which would draw out inspirations and can make horrific conclusions in his stories hilarious.

One of his attributes was telling stories of horrific experiences in his life and laughing his pants off about it.  One of them was when I went to visit him in the hospital after having an emergency heart surgery several years back.  I noticed the cut on his head and asked what happened.  He started laughing so hard while telling me that he flat lined not just once, but two times.  Another great story that he loved telling was when he was carjacked when he lived on Capitol Street in DC.  The carjackers did not know how to drive a stick shift, so they made Wayne teach one of them how to drive a stick shift (so they could steal his car) as they held him up at a gunpoint.

Wayne was full of adventures.  He would pursue any opportunity to explore and discover new and different things, even though at times, ends up in some sort of disaster.  Just like when he attempted roller blading for the first time, thinking it would be like ice skating.  He ended up breaking his knee.  He broke his other knee attempting to try pogo sticks.

He was mostly great at everything except driving.  He would always come home with either a dent or a scratch on his bumpers.  I don’t even know how many side mirrors he had to replace.  One time he had to get a car rental because he wrecked his car.  I caught him outside trying to clean the scratches and dent on the front fender of his rental car.  All I could do was shake my head and laugh along with him.

Wayne was such an amazing person who lived life to its fullest.  He lived as a monk in a monastery (in France), Philosophy Professor, Theater Operations Director, devoted Roman Catholic, Figure & Synchronized ice skater (and coach), Synchronized swimmer, gardener, photographer, digital album maker, animal lover, love and passion for classical music, arts, the opera and Stage Theater.  He completed crossword puzzles in New York Times daily, with an ink pen.  He adored playing cards with his friends and family.  He could spend all day long doing Excel spreadsheets on his computer.  He had a weakness for vanilla ice cream, spoke fluent French and travelled back to France every summer to visit his many, many friends that he made there, when he lived in France, which he considered his second family.  He was very kind hearted, well-educated with full of useful knowledge, which he loves to share with everyone, well-travelled, friends to many, thoughtful, down to earth, optimistic with a great sense of humor.

As a man of true integrity, Wayne would never budge under any circumstances; He stuck to his words and pursued the integrity of honesty, open-mindedness and willingness.  A man with a simple taste of slacks and polo shirts, he focused on providing a helping hand to anyone with the best life possible without worrying about himself.

Wayne was a truly great man whose impact will be forever felt by his friends and family that loves him dearly.  He was a selfless man whose passing left an unfillable gap in the hearts of his loved ones.  His ability to sacrifice, provide support, forgive, and love will be forever engraved in all he knew.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 at 10:00 am at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 345 Bear Christiana Rd., Bear, DE 19701.

RIP Wayne, you will truly be missed…             

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