Dennis Michael White

Professionally, Dennis started as a heavy equipment operator, then became the owner-operator of his own truck driving business for 16 years, and finally spent over 20 years working as a mechanical technician at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. He also owned and operated a tractor for rototilling as a side business.

Outside of work, Dennis was a true man of action and adventure. A key life passion was as a pilot where he owned multiple planes over the years, frequently taking his friends and family on private flights all around California. He led an exceptionally active life as a mountain climber (summiting Mt. Morrison as well as the Lower Cathedral Spire and the Royal Arches in Yosemite), a jet boat owner and water skier, electric pedal-assist bicycle rider, and a skydiver. Dennis was a phenomenal driver, preferring his Harley Davidson motorcycle for solo trips, his heavily modified ’68 Chevy truck for 4-wheel driving or on a quad for off-roading. He even volunteered as a steam engine locomotive engineer during his weekends and spent many of his retirement weekdays volunteering in an auto mechanics workshop in his free time.

For hobbies, Dennis’s activities highlight his incredible aptitude with all things mechanical. He was a builder and continuously tinkered with personal projects, routinely creating gadgets and structures from within his mind’s eye, capable of working on and fixing anything: wood, metal, glass, plumbing, electrical, etc. He purchased, restored, and maintained a 1937 Stover hit-n-miss engine, built and flew model electric helicopters, and was an astronomy enthusiast and telescope operator. He even owned chainsaws and tree climbing gear to limb or fell large trees for his friends. As a pastime, he enjoyed spectating heavy equipment and large construction projects for hours at a time.

Dennis was a champion of common sense, practical knowledge, and wisdom, always eager to help, offer advice, and oversee any project. He was intense, meticulous, and focused with a drive to accomplish anything, such as building an amazing treehouse with no written plan or integrating solar panels into his three wheel mobility scooter while recovering from leg surgery. Dennis also expressed his creativity through writing, being a life-long avid reader and author of poetry, routinely creating poems that captured his thoughts, feelings, and life reflections. He greatly enjoyed Italian food, where a frequent pastime was culinary experiences at favorite restaurants. Dennis was an exceptionally capable man who led a full life.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Tina, and his son, Cory, of San Jose. His witty, teasing humor, thought-provoking conversation, strong presence, and hearty, contagious laugh will be missed by all who knew him.