Thomas J. White

Thomas J. White (March 10, 1920 – January 7, 2011) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was a co-founder of Partners In Health and estimated that he gave away more than $75 million to various charities.

Early life, education, and military service Thomas J. White was born on March 10, 1920, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Joseph F. White and Dorothy Aylward White. He attended Cambridge Latin School and graduated in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in Romance languages from Harvard College. He joined the U.S. Army a week later to become a paratrooper and an officer.

Career After the war, White joined his family's construction firm, J.F. White Contracting Co., named after his father who founded the company. White became majority owner and chief executive of the company. During his tenure, J.F. White Contracting helped build the Charles River Dam, Foxboro Stadium, Park Plaza Hotel, and part of Boston's MBTA subway system.

Personal life and death In 1947, White married Margaret Flynn, with whom he had seven children. They later divorced. In 1971, he married Lois Driscoll, who herself had six children.

White died on January 7, 2011, at the age of 90.