James Michael White died in the afternoon on Thursday, the 13th of July 2017 after complications from surgery. His death was tragic but his life was profound. Jim blended his personal commitments with his professional career to create a coherent life few have achieved. For his friends, family and colleagues, he was a moral compass, steering them always toward things that mattered. An intentional person . . . an intentional life.
Born in 1945 amid the vanguard of the postwar boom, he was the son of a proud veteran father of the Second World War, Robert White, and his dear mother, Patricia Gordon White.
Jim came to Kansas City in the early 70's and fell in love with the Westside neighborhood. It was there that he helped to found St. Francis House in the spirit of Dorothy Day. He married the love of his life, Martha Liston, on June 22, 1973, and had two children who loved him deeply. He facilitated many wonderful memories for his family; ski trips in his native Colorado, Ozark canoe trips, soccer coaching or the occasional white-hot Grateful Dead dance party.
Jim felt both a deep connection and an obligation to his community, Kansas City. His impact to our city was enormous, and often accomplished against all odds. While the list is long, a few of his proudest accomplishments were creating Communiversity; helping to found the Westside Housing Organization, which today remains the most robust community development corporation in Kansas City, providing affordable housing and minor home repair for low income residents on the Westside; running a successful political campaign that resulted in the election of the first Mexican-American councilman in Kansas City history; and revamping the Rehab Loan Corporation in the early 1980's. He also killed it on the tennis court, played the guitar, and was a great dancer.
Jim was lucky to find his true calling early in life and dedicated his career to housing, still one of the most pressing issues in our society. He went at it full knuckle, making allies as well as enemies, both of whom respected him. He finished his professional career at LISC, a difficult job that he approached with humility and purpose. After retirement, Jim remained civically active. He served for two decades on the City's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, and never lost his passion for progressive politics, with detailed plans up until his final days on reforming the Democratic Party. He loved the garden, the fountain, his loving wife Martha, and his orchids. But perhaps the happiest moments of his last years were seeing his granddaughter, Clara Ann Van Rheen, giggling, laughing and calling him Pop Pop.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Christopher White and his uncle, Joe Gordon. He leaves his wife, Martha Liston, two children, Molly P. Van Rheen (Zach) and Joseph Daniel, and the light of his life the past 19 months, granddaughter Clara Ann Van Rheen. He also leaves a sister, Maria Pompea, a brother, Robert White, his Aunt Diane Gordon, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held from 5-9pm Tuesday, July 18th at Tighe Hall, Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street. Donations in memory of Jim can be made to Westside Housing Organization www.westsidehousing.org/donate
Westside Housing Organization
Born in 1945 amid the vanguard of the postwar boom, he was the son of a proud veteran father of the Second World War, Robert White, and his dear mother, Patricia Gordon White.
Jim came to Kansas City in the early 70's and fell in love with the Westside neighborhood. It was there that he helped to found St. Francis House in the spirit of Dorothy Day. He married the love of his life, Martha Liston, on June 22, 1973, and had two children who loved him deeply. He facilitated many wonderful memories for his family; ski trips in his native Colorado, Ozark canoe trips, soccer coaching or the occasional white-hot Grateful Dead dance party.
Jim felt both a deep connection and an obligation to his community, Kansas City. His impact to our city was enormous, and often accomplished against all odds. While the list is long, a few of his proudest accomplishments were creating Communiversity; helping to found the Westside Housing Organization, which today remains the most robust community development corporation in Kansas City, providing affordable housing and minor home repair for low income residents on the Westside; running a successful political campaign that resulted in the election of the first Mexican-American councilman in Kansas City history; and revamping the Rehab Loan Corporation in the early 1980's. He also killed it on the tennis court, played the guitar, and was a great dancer.
Jim was lucky to find his true calling early in life and dedicated his career to housing, still one of the most pressing issues in our society. He went at it full knuckle, making allies as well as enemies, both of whom respected him. He finished his professional career at LISC, a difficult job that he approached with humility and purpose. After retirement, Jim remained civically active. He served for two decades on the City's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, and never lost his passion for progressive politics, with detailed plans up until his final days on reforming the Democratic Party. He loved the garden, the fountain, his loving wife Martha, and his orchids. But perhaps the happiest moments of his last years were seeing his granddaughter, Clara Ann Van Rheen, giggling, laughing and calling him Pop Pop.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Christopher White and his uncle, Joe Gordon. He leaves his wife, Martha Liston, two children, Molly P. Van Rheen (Zach) and Joseph Daniel, and the light of his life the past 19 months, granddaughter Clara Ann Van Rheen. He also leaves a sister, Maria Pompea, a brother, Robert White, his Aunt Diane Gordon, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held from 5-9pm Tuesday, July 18th at Tighe Hall, Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street. Donations in memory of Jim can be made to Westside Housing Organization www.westsidehousing.org/donate
Westside Housing Organization
James Michael White died in the afternoon on Thursday, the 13th of July 2017 after complications from surgery. His death was tragic but his life was profound. Jim blended his personal commitments with his professional career to create a coherent life few have achieved. For his friends, family and colleagues, he was a moral compass, steering them always toward things that mattered. An intentional person . . . an intentional life.
Born in 1945 amid the vanguard of the postwar boom, he was the son of a proud veteran father of the Second World War, Robert White, and his dear mother, Patricia Gordon White.
Jim came to Kansas City in the early 70's and fell in love with the Westside neighborhood. It was there that he helped to found St. Francis House in the spirit of Dorothy Day. He married the love of his life, Martha Liston, on June 22, 1973, and had two children who loved him deeply. He facilitated many wonderful memories for his family; ski trips in his native Colorado, Ozark canoe trips, soccer coaching or the occasional white-hot Grateful Dead dance party.
Jim felt both a deep connection and an obligation to his community, Kansas City. His impact to our city was enormous, and often accomplished against all odds. While the list is long, a few of his proudest accomplishments were creating Communiversity; helping to found the Westside Housing Organization, which today remains the most robust community development corporation in Kansas City, providing affordable housing and minor home repair for low income residents on the Westside; running a successful political campaign that resulted in the election of the first Mexican-American councilman in Kansas City history; and revamping the Rehab Loan Corporation in the early 1980's. He also killed it on the tennis court, played the guitar, and was a great dancer.
Jim was lucky to find his true calling early in life and dedicated his career to housing, still one of the most pressing issues in our society. He went at it full knuckle, making allies as well as enemies, both of whom respected him. He finished his professional career at LISC, a difficult job that he approached with humility and purpose. After retirement, Jim remained civically active. He served for two decades on the City's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, and never lost his passion for progressive politics, with detailed plans up until his final days on reforming the Democratic Party. He loved the garden, the fountain, his loving wife Martha, and his orchids. But perhaps the happiest moments of his last years were seeing his granddaughter, Clara Ann Van Rheen, giggling, laughing and calling him Pop Pop.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Christopher White and his uncle, Joe Gordon. He leaves his wife, Martha Liston, two children, Molly P. Van Rheen (Zach) and Joseph Daniel, and the light of his life the past 19 months, granddaughter Clara Ann Van Rheen. He also leaves a sister, Maria Pompea, a brother, Robert White, his Aunt Diane Gordon, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held from 5-9pm Tuesday, July 18th at Tighe Hall, Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street. Donations in memory of Jim can be made to Westside Housing Organization www.westsidehousing.org/donate
Westside Housing Organization
Born in 1945 amid the vanguard of the postwar boom, he was the son of a proud veteran father of the Second World War, Robert White, and his dear mother, Patricia Gordon White.
Jim came to Kansas City in the early 70's and fell in love with the Westside neighborhood. It was there that he helped to found St. Francis House in the spirit of Dorothy Day. He married the love of his life, Martha Liston, on June 22, 1973, and had two children who loved him deeply. He facilitated many wonderful memories for his family; ski trips in his native Colorado, Ozark canoe trips, soccer coaching or the occasional white-hot Grateful Dead dance party.
Jim felt both a deep connection and an obligation to his community, Kansas City. His impact to our city was enormous, and often accomplished against all odds. While the list is long, a few of his proudest accomplishments were creating Communiversity; helping to found the Westside Housing Organization, which today remains the most robust community development corporation in Kansas City, providing affordable housing and minor home repair for low income residents on the Westside; running a successful political campaign that resulted in the election of the first Mexican-American councilman in Kansas City history; and revamping the Rehab Loan Corporation in the early 1980's. He also killed it on the tennis court, played the guitar, and was a great dancer.
Jim was lucky to find his true calling early in life and dedicated his career to housing, still one of the most pressing issues in our society. He went at it full knuckle, making allies as well as enemies, both of whom respected him. He finished his professional career at LISC, a difficult job that he approached with humility and purpose. After retirement, Jim remained civically active. He served for two decades on the City's Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority, and never lost his passion for progressive politics, with detailed plans up until his final days on reforming the Democratic Party. He loved the garden, the fountain, his loving wife Martha, and his orchids. But perhaps the happiest moments of his last years were seeing his granddaughter, Clara Ann Van Rheen, giggling, laughing and calling him Pop Pop.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Christopher White and his uncle, Joe Gordon. He leaves his wife, Martha Liston, two children, Molly P. Van Rheen (Zach) and Joseph Daniel, and the light of his life the past 19 months, granddaughter Clara Ann Van Rheen. He also leaves a sister, Maria Pompea, a brother, Robert White, his Aunt Diane Gordon, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held from 5-9pm Tuesday, July 18th at Tighe Hall, Visitation Church, 5141 Main Street. Donations in memory of Jim can be made to Westside Housing Organization www.westsidehousing.org/donate
Westside Housing Organization
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