Noted Journalist Dies At Age 32

Jeffrey White, an award-winning journalist covering European affairs, died at his parents' home in Newtown on June 29. He was 32 years old. Born on July 20, 1976, in Durban, South Africa, his early childhood was spent overseas before his family ultimately settled in New England.

Most recently, he was based in Germany, where he lived with his wife, Nicole Zimmermann White. They were married in Bonn just four weeks ago.

He died of cancer after battling the disease valiantly in recent years.

Many in Newtown knew Jeff White from his work as a reporter for The Newtown Bee in 1999 and 2000. He subsequently continued the education in journalism he had begun at Boston College with graduate work at Boston University, where he earned a position at the university's prestigious Washington Journalism Center. He reported as an intern from the Washington bureau of The Wall Street Journal and as a congressional correspondent for the Waterbury Republican-American.

From 2001 to 2005 Mr White was a staff reporter for the Patriot-Ledger in suburban Boston before moving to Prague in 2005 to pursue his dream assignment as a foreign correspondent. He wrote for the Christian Science Monitor and other publications while also serving as news editor of the Prague Post, a position he held until 2007. His news reporting and essays have appeared in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, American Lawyer, Legal Week, World Politics Review, Pop Matters, and the international edition of Der Spiegel. He also contributed reporting and essays to Gadling, AOL's travel blog.

As a journalist working across the diverse political and cultural geography of Europe, there were few topics or issues that escaped Mr White's attention. He reported from 15 countries on subjects ranging from European Union politics, energy policy, military defense, and human rights abuses to theater, wine, beer, and golf. His work has been honored by the Inland Press Association and the New England Press Association.

In the spring of 2008, he was a visiting professor of writing at the University of Montenegro.

Newtown Bee editor Curtiss Clark remembered Jeff White this week as a man of intelligence, spirit, and character.

"It was clear from early in Jeff's remarkable career that his life would transcend his own personal story. He knew that the world itself has a story to tell, and he was eager to get out there and tell it."

The Bee editor added, "We are all deeply saddened that the story continues now without his clear and rational voice."

In the final difficult weeks and months of his life, Jeff White's keen spirit and determination was turned to accomplishing his heartfelt goal of marrying the woman he loved. Jeff and Nicki joined their lives in a wedding ceremony celebrating their inspiring love and commitment to each other on June 6 in Bonn.

In addition to his wife, Mr White is survived by his parents, James and Dolores White of Newtown; his brothers, Gregory White of New York City, Paul White and his wife, Danielle, of Rochester, N.Y., and Michael White and his wife, Lynn, of St Louis, Mo.; and five nieces and nephews.

The immediate family is planning a private funeral service at a time that is yet to be determined.

Donations may be made in Mr White's name to Dr Sato's Eye Melanoma Research Fund at Kimmel Cancer Center. Mail donations to Melissa Pizarro, associate director of development, Kimmel Cancer Center, 233 South 10th Street, Suite 908, Philadelphia PA 19107.

The Newtown Bee July 3, 2009