Gerry Wayne White, 78, died on October 5, 2021. He graduated from high school in Texas before getting an appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. He graduated with honors, then served in Washington and Hawaii, including on the Cutter Mellon's maiden voyage from New Orleans to its station in Honolulu. After the service, he got a master's in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.



Gerry worked as an engineer in utility and energy conservation for many years, including at ASU and at UC San Diego, where he was the Director of Engineering Services. He won numerous awards and recognition in energy efficiency, conservation and design of engineering systems for buildings and central utility plants. Gerry helped build a cogeneration plant at the UCSD campus that supplies power, heating and cooling to academic, laboratory, housing, administrative and hospital buildings. He was a mentor to his colleagues, and a plaque was placed in his honor on the School of Engineering walkway that states: Gerry W. White, PE Director of Engineering Services 1992-2008... His legacy literally powers this campus."



Gerry is survived by his wife, Diane Melanie, a son, two daughters, two stepchildren, a brother, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Gerry is predeceased by a brother, a sister and stepson. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to UCSD Moores Cancer Center. (Source: Arizona Republic)