Values taught by my father

By John White Jr.
    Growing up, I was lucky enough to have one of the best dads a boy could have. I’m sure many of you know my father, John White, either through church, his involvement with Little League, his years at Food Trend, Foggs, a janitor at the school, etc. In my biased opinion, you’d be hard pressed to find a more genuine, honest, giving, caring human being.
    I grew up with two younger brothers, Mike and Jared, and I’m sure at times we were quite a handful for “Senior” (as we call him) and my mom. Dad always worked two jobs when I was younger (manager of Food Trend and the church janitor as well as a few others when I was almost too little to remember). He did everything he could for us. He even would take his vacation from work during potato harvest and come pick potatoes with us, even though I was so ungrateful at the time that I quit.
Contributed photo
ME AND MY DAD — John White Jr, left, poses in an undated photo with his father John Sr.
    I have so many great memories of my dad that it’s hard to really narrow it down to one or two. There was the race track we’d race cars on the kitchen table with. All the Star Wars action figures he’d get for me and play with me (wish we had kept those in their original cases!). The snowball fights, water balloon fights, the wrestling matches.
    He always coached me in T-Ball, Little League, basketball, etc. But one of the most special times was when he was able to coach me in Little League All-Stars. I’ll never forget giving him a Gatorade-bath after beating the Southern Aroostook area team down in Dyer Brook to advance onto play Machias. Hard to believe that was 23 years ago this summer!
    We ended up losing to Machias down there, beating them up here and going to the “rubber game” played in Bangor. That day Stephen King was the guest scorekeeper! We lost that game after blowing a lead late. I can still see the play that cost us in my mind as I watched from left field. That whole month of traveling, practicing and playing for my dad and his assistant, the late John Trecartin, will be something I’ll never forget. 
    Although I’ll never live up to being the father he was, I strive every day to be more and more like he was. He really taught my brothers and I so many life lessons growing up. He really placed us on the right paths to follow. So thank you, Dad, for teaching us well, raising us the best way possible, while at the same time being a great friend. Love you man!