HENRY L. WHITED M.D., WEST GREENWICH, R.I. – Henry L. Whited M.D., age 88 of West Greenwich, died peacefully on Monday, October 1, 2018, at Saint Elizabeth Home, East Greenwich, RI. For 29 wonderful years, he was married to his beloved wife, Birgitta (Andersson) Whited.
Born in Houlton, ME, he was the son of the late Norman and Marie (Farmer) Whited. He attended Catholic school throughout his younger years, and then graduated from Hodgdon High School. After high school, he earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering at University of Maine in Orono, ME, then continued on to earn his MBA at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. He served in the Army during the Korean War. Employed by General Electric in Lynn, MA as a Mechanical Engineer, Henry was on the team that drafted the first jet engine for helicopters.
Despite his successful career as an engineer, he decided to further his education and change his career field by earning his Medical Doctorate from SUNY, Buffalo, going on to specialize in Cardiology. An Associate Professor at Brown University, Henry was respected and revered by his colleagues, students, and patients. He closed his office in 1990, but missed the contact with the hospital and patients. He took the advanced degree in Emergency Medicine and was employed by Roger Williams Medical Center until March 2000.
A colleague and former student of Henry, said eloquently that “he had a unique perspective on medicine as a result of his successful prior career. He inspired those at Roger Williams lucky enough to be under his tutelage. He was thorough, solid, generous, and caring. We gained not only cardiologic knowledge, but more importantly how to be a physician- to balance career with outside interests and make it work while delivering medical care with a capital ‘C’.”
Henry balanced his rigorous work schedule with some of his favorite hobbies skiing, boating, and woodworking. An avid sailor, he owned many different boats (15 of different sizes when Birgitta came along). A skilled woodworker, he and Birgitta built their own home in Hope Valley, RI.
Besides his wife, he is survived by two step-daughters, Eva Stenberg of Newport, NH, and Mona Akerblom of Mountain View, CA; two brothers, William Whited and James Whited; three sisters, Marie Whited, Jo Anna Colby, and Sarah Whited-Higgins; four step-grandchildren, Tor and Bjorn, Iain and Ria. He was predeceased by his brother, John Whited and two sisters, Norma Dzaugis and Constance Quinn.
Services for Henry will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, 3152 Little Road, Suite 146, Trinity, FL 34655, or Saint Elizabeth Home, One Saint Elizabeth Way, East Greenwich, RI 02818. Condolences at carpenterjenks.com.
