White, 58, died after a heart attack on July 21, 2018, in Norfolk.
Raised and beloved in storied Fort Dodge, Iowa, Rich married Mary Anna Newton, his grad-school sweetheart, in 1992. She survives him along with their son, Francis Hanrahan White.
Richard was born on February 28, 1960, in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, and grew up in Fort Dodge. His mother, Mary Virginia Hanrahan White, a single mother and teacher, died in 1980. Besides Mary Anna and Frankie, further survivors are siblings Regina White (Jack Hayes) of Falls Church, Thomas White of Norfolk and Victoria White (Stan Fitterman) of Tampa, Florida, his father-in-law, Francis Lanneau Newton, of Chapel Hill, NC, other Newton in-laws and loads of adored Hanrahan, Ford, Darling, Fitterman, Newton and Partrick uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews and multitudes of friends.
Richard graduated from St. Edmond High School in 1978. He received his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University, earned his master's degree in Classics from the University of Texas at Austin and studied at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He was a resident fellow at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.
For 16 years Richard was the Latin teacher at Norfolk Collegiate School, his cherished son's alma mater, which sits across the street from Granby High School, where Mary Anna teaches Latin. Rich deeply inspired and taught a generation of students. He helmed the Battle of the Brains academic team, with Frankie a four-year member and captain, and was an assistant cross country and track coach for his son's teams, as well. Most recently, Rich and Frankie trained and sweated alongside each other in Jiu-Jitsu. Years ago, Rich taught at ODU and Virginia Wesleyan College.
All are welcome to the wake Friday, July 27, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Norfolk Collegiate (Granby St. Campus) Upper School Lobby/Cafeteria, 7336 Granby Street in Norfolk. Rev. Paul Muyimbwa will preside at a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 520 Graydon Avenue in Norfolk.
For further memorial information and reminiscences visit OBITUARe.com.
