Dr. John White

I was saddened to hear of John's passing. He was such an iconic figure for me both as an undergraduate and postgraduate in the late 70's. I first met John as an undergraduate in the 4th year labs in 1976. His instincts and incisive insights into the practical aspects of Physics experiments made a big impression. Then in 1977 I had John as my MSc supervisor in the initial stages. Once again his instinctive grasp of practical measurement issues and of Electronics was an invaluable compass. He always remained most helpful throughout and was a gifted teacher. My condolences to John's family and may he rest in peace.

Deepest sympathy to John’s family on the very sad news of his passing.
May he rest in peace.
Happy birthday John!

Rest in peace my dear good friend John. Deepest sympathy to all family friends and neighbours.

I first met John when we were both in the second year physics class in UCD. I had done Premed not first science so I didn’t know anyone in the class. John befriended me and introduced me to others that he liked. John was easy to talk to and was interested in everything and everybody .

After graduation John became a valued member of the Physics Department while I went to America and then got married and had a family.

About twenty years later I bumped into John in the Dunlaoghaire shopping centre when I had my three children in tow . His comment was “are they all yours”? As direct speaking as I remembered.
From then on the whole family got to know John and want to be included in expressing condolences to Johns family at his loss.,ie Kevin McGeeney and the “all” Brian ,Kevin, and Jenny.

John was gifted in so many ways. He was a gardener a builder an inventor an avid traveller and a great raconteur . He had an expert knowledge of clocks and travelled the world to see the best in museums all over the world. He shared his enthusiasms with others
John was a gentle ,caring, straight talking man of great integrity he will be missed by all who knew him
Rest in Peace John
Dorothy McGeeney (nee Conway)

I have very fond memories of working with John, especially the time he supervised my final-year project (he didn't hide his scepticism about my abilities!). He was a highly capable scientist with a great sense of humour and was always happy to help others. My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

I was so sad to hear of the passing of Dr. John White. Our first meeting was in the Physics Dept in Earlsfort Tce.in the late fifties and then continued for over 40 yrs.
I enjoyed his company,his good humor and valued his willingness to pass on any knowledge he had on a subject.
My deepest sympathy to all his family.
May he rest in peace

I was Secretary in the Physics Dept from 1976-85. John actually interviewed me and although I had no background in Physics he was impressed that I knew how to use an IBM golfball typewriter! John was an extremely clever and well travelled man. He regaled us in the Physics Common Room with unbelievable stories that were absolutely true. I was always impressed with his vast knowledge of everything and I truly liked him very much. RIP Dr. John White.

Sincere condolence to Johns family

I was a student in UCD in 1969 and John supervised the fourth year labs. He was an excellent physicist along with being extremely helpful. He regaled us with stories of the cock-ups with some of the early NASA satellites!
I still remember him saying “Contempt is knowledge”
May John Rest in Peace - a fine UCD physicist.

I was saddened to hear of John’s passing. He will be fondly remembered by his colleagues in the School of Physics (previously Department of Experimental Physics). I remember talking to him at the Physics60 event, to mark 60 years of Physics on the Belfield campus, about the laboratory furniture that he had designed and which was still in use then. Thinking of you all at this difficult time. Kind regards, Emma

We were saddened to hear that John had died. As near neighbours we knew John for over 40 years and particularly in recent years since retirement we enjoyed the chats about the garden and the weather! Our condolences to all the family .

Deepest sympathies to John's family and friends on the sad news of his passing. We often used to chat when we met on our way to Mass on Sunday mornings or if he was in his garden as I passed by.
He was a kind gentleman and was generous with his gardening tips. May he rest in eternal peace.

Sincere condolences on the death of John. A gentleman and I loved our chats especially around the time of the first visit of a Pope to Ireland.. He was one of a special kind. (UCD retiree)

I first met John as a first-year undergraduate UCD science student in 1973. I was a very keen amateur astronomer and had built my own 22cm Newtonian telescope, whose mirror I used to silver, but I really needed an aluminium coating. John could not have been more interested and helpful. The UCD facilities could not cope with that mirror size, but he arranged to get it done gratis in Kevin St.

As my undergraduate experimental physics degree progressed, I had John as my lecturer and mentor in the 4th-year lab. Not only was John a very good physicist, but he also shared my passion for the more practical and experimental side of physics and was invaluable for his practical insights and knowledge of electronics and control theory.

This was particularly valuable when I had to build some specialised electronics during my PhD - a servo mechanism for keeping the illumination of a photomultiplier constant in a varying starfield, which was initially unstable, but worked perfectly after following his advice, when he always gave generously.

RIP John, you were one of a kind and will be very sorely missed.

John’s parents were neighbours and friends of my parents Stephen and Eileen Dempsey. John became a good friend to me and my family. I deeply regret John’s passing. May John rest in peace.

Sincere condolence to all John’s family from myself and Monica. As a scientific colleague in UCD, John played an important part in all my scientific endeavours. I valued his friendship and expertise immensely. May he rest in peace.

John was a close friend of our family when we were growing up. He visited us every Sunday afternoon - as regularly as clockwork - and he always stayed well into the evening
His boyish enthusiasm for everything was infectious and he got involved in whatever projects we were engaged in with great gusto: be it homework or DIY projects. He was like a kind uncle. I never saw him getting cross or being negative in any way
He had travelled a lot and told us about his trips to what were then exotic and far-flung places and would relate stories of those trips well into the evenings
He loved teaching in the physics department of UCD where he was respected as a physicist as well as a teacher
He loved his garden with its handkerchief tree, its echiums and all its other exotic plants which seem to grow well in Monkstown - and loved showing the garden off
Having lived on Richmond Avenue all of his life, he took great interest in his neighbours - and in whatever extensions or alterations they were doing: building being another of his many pet topics
Many on Richmond Avenue looked in on him in his later years – particularly his immediate neighbours whom John spoke about with affection and gratitude
He will be greatly missed and remembered with great love and respect
RIP John

Simon

Condolences to John’s family, friends and neighbours. John White was so practical and kind with his advice and his companionship. A really clever man that supported his friends unconditionally, including ‘Aunty Mary’ Lynch, like clockwork. We loved visiting him and having him over to our home. His advice was always just right. John had great integrity and always told the truth. His interest in clocks and antiquities were unsurpassed even to the very end. We will miss him greatly from our lives but his legacy lives on. May he Rest in Peace

Sincere sympathy Gillian Hilary, Jed. Lizzie,Susie, Jimmy, Frank Dominic Matthew &Rachel and all the family and his good friends and neighbours on the passing of Uncle John. A lovely man .we are thinkiing you all at this ssd time.May he now be reunited with his parents and espically Joy your Mum and Granny
May John Rest in peace and may his good deeds go with him!

John was a wonderful neighbour. He was a great friend to my mum Irene. She loved their chats about the garden. He will be missed on Richmond Avenue. Condolences to this family and friends. Rest in Peace John