For many years, Robert White sent a weekly email to the members of Opera-L with the schedule of the MET Opera channel on Sirius along with annotations from his vast knowledge and experience attending opera. This site will continue this tradition in his honor but without his expertise and wit.
Robert W. White of Cliffside Park, NJ died on Friday, December 16, 2016 at age 70.
Originally from Dallas, TX, he received his B.A. in Classical Languages from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968 and his M.L.S. degree in 1972 from Drexel University.
After working at Penn, the Bryn Mawr College Library, and Brown University (where he helped John F. Kennedy, Jr. with his research papers), he moved to the New York City area and became Head of Technical Services and Automation at the Morris County Library in Hanover, NJ where his progressive ideas modernized the workings of that library system. In 1986, he became the Executive Director of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System (BCCLS) where he stayed for 29 years and enlarged the consortium from 21 member libraries to its current 77 members. Mr. White was a tireless champion for libraries and in 2015, Mr. White received the Library Champion award from the New Jersey Library Association, which he cherished.
After retiring from BCCLS, Robert became interim director of the PALS Plus consortium and later a consultant until his death.
Robert was a great lover and supporter of the arts. He was a Patron of the Metropolitan Opera as well as a subscriber for 25 years. He loved theater, music and tennis. His fondness for travel took him to Europe, South America, and across the United States.
He was a consultant and speaker for many libraries and library consortia where his unique style made a huge impact.
His exuberance and generosity of spirit brought joy to the lives of all who knew him.
Robert is survived by a nephew, Stephen White of Arlington, TX, along with many friends, colleagues, and admirers. He was predeceased by both his parents and his brother.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 21, at 10:30 am at the New Milford Public Library, 200 Dahlia Avenue, New Milford, NJ 07646.