Former Pasadena Mayor Robert White Dies

Born in Santa Ana , White earned a bachelor’s degree in China area studies from the University of Oregon and a master’s degree from Georgetown University in the same field.  From 1954 to 1961 he worked for the U.S. State Department as a foreign documents officer and Chinese language interpreter, then earned a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley .

A partner in the law firm of Glad, Tuttle and White of Los Angeles and San Francisco , he specialized in government regulation of foreign trade, tariff and customs law.

He was elected to the board of city directors in 1971, re-elected in 1975 and served as mayor on a rotational basis from 1977 to 1979.

“Bob White was part of a new generation of leadership in the 1970s that raised questions about what kind of community we want Pasadena to be,” said Mayor Bill Bogaard.  “Gently but firmly, he advocated for jobs and housing for low-income residents, environmental responsibility, measured growth and good urban design.  It was the beginning of Pasadena ‘s modern history.” 

Preceded in death by his wife Nancy, a former registered nurse at Huntington Hospital , White is survived by four daughters. 

“Throughout his life he had a love of public libraries, the outdoors and civil rights,” said daughter Sarah Chrisley.

White was president of the local chapter of the ACLU, served on the Pasadena Planning Commission and was a member of Friends of Pasadena Public Library.

When his service as mayor was complete, he moved Durango , Colorado , where he founded an ACLU chapter and was a member of Friends of Durango Public Library.  He was instrumental in helping establish an expanded public library system there.

More recently, White moved near Lafayette , Calif. , to be near his daughter Sarah as his health began to fail.

His body will be cremated and ashes scattered in Durango .  The family appreciates donations to Friends of Pasadena Public Library, 285 E. Walnut St . , Pasadena CA 91101 ; and Friends of Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave. , Durango CO 81301.