HAMPDEN AND CARIBOU, Maine — Leland M. White, M.D., 92, went to be with his heavenly father on April 7, 2017 at Eastern Maine Medical Center. He was born in Bangor, Maine on October 12, 1924, to Henry White and Grace White. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Alice “Bonnie” Jensen. He was married to Carol L. White, R.N. for 65 years and they had four daughters, Brenna, Vicki, Dietra, Stacey, twelve grandchildren, and two sons-in-law.
A graduate of Bangor High School at age 17, Dr. White attended the University of Maine and completed four years of college in three. He earned his medical degree at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed internship at the Methodist Hospital in New York and his residency at the Methodist Hospital and Maine Medical Center in Portland. He served in U.S. Army during WWII at Field hospital in England.
Dr. White was an Internal Medicine Specialist at Cary Medical Center in Caribou, Maine, for thirty-three years and retired July 1, 1988.
Dr. White was active in the Caribou community during his years of practice. He has served on the Cary Board of Directors and is past president of the medical staff. He served on the Cary Medical Staff Executive Committee. He has also held numerous other offices on the medical staff at Cary.
In addition to his active role at Cary Medical, Dr. White has served as president of the Aroostook Country Nursing Professional Advisory Committee; a member and former Director of the Caribou Rotary Club; help organize the Aroostook County Action Program for low-income citizens; served as one of ACAP’s first directors; and served with ACAP several years in addition to being elected its second president and former chief of the state of Maine Congenital Heart Clinics in Caribou for several years.
Dr. White was a member of the Caribou United Baptist Church and attended Country Side Community Church in Contoocook, New Hampshire.
Dr. White has also been active with American Heart association’s Advanced life support education programs. He became one of the First physicians in Aroostook County to be trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and has been involved in training other physicians in the skill.
Dr. White was presented with the Kiwanis plaque for outstanding community service and has also helped start and coordinate the Ambulatory Diabetic Education and follow-up program at Cary.
He has served as a medical examiner for 20 years and, was a volunteer medical consultant to the Mapleton children’s camp where they named the medical clinic after him.
Dr. White also helped form a program for alcoholics and has been a delegate to the County Medical Society for 20 years. He was a doctor who accepted geese and Indian baskets when people couldn’t pay their medical bills. He was a husband who stayed with his wife and fulfilled his vows to the end. He was a father who always provided. He was a Granddad who always gave. He was a man after God’s own heart. Paraphrased by Kristina Farmer.
In 1983, Dr. White was presented with A.H. Robbins Award for Community Service, one of the most prestigious awards presented to a Maine physician during the annual meeting of the Maine Medical Association. He was the 23rd Maine physician to be presented with the award.
Dr. White will be sadly missed, particularly for his unique style, sense of humor and his keen interest in education.
A graveside service to celebrate the life of Dr. White was held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15, 2017, at Pine Grove Cemetery, Hammond Street, Bangor. Those wishing to remember Dr. White in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Teen Challenge of New England, 11 Hudson Ln, Winthrop, ME 04364. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
