Page 30 - Spring 2026

Class News, continued...

the American Legion Hall in Editor’s Note: Time to fix an held in July of 2025 at Gateway Class of 1961
Houlton. oversight from the Fall/Winter Park. Sally Wakefield White Barbara McGillicuddy Bolton
Joanne Ivey Greenspan ’25 issue for the Class of 1960. had such a great time that she 384A 5th St.
called from Texas. She had A handwritten note addressed was prompted to write an essay Brooklyn, NY 11215
cataract surgery in one eye. to me was misplaced and Class about her husband, Dennis (718) 788-2282
She hopes to go to Maine Rep, Linda St. Peter tracked it White, also a member of the mcgillbolt@yahoo.com
again this summer. down for me. It was related to Class of 1960. Here is her story:
their 65th reunion that was

To the Houlton High School Class of 1960 –

An Essay on Dennis Emery White

By Sally Wakefield White ‘60
Once again, many thanks to Terry and Linda St. Peter for all their planning and time spent on arranging this class reunion which
took place on July 10, 2025, in Houlton, Maine.
The purpose of sharing this information on Dennis White ‘60 is to let the Class of 1960 know more about this “gentle giant”
Dennis Emery White was born in Houlton on April 5, 1942, to Miles and Bessie White. Dennis had three brothers and two sisters.
His schooling consisted of but not limited to: Pleasant Street School, Central School, Houlton Junior High School, Houlton High
School and Southern Maine Vocational Technical Institute, all of which prepared Dennis for a career in building construction.
In 1962, Dennis graduated from S.M.V.T.I. After graduation, Dennis worked for three different contractors in Southern Maine. In
1972 he began his own construction company, “White Construction Company.” All work referrals came by word-of-mouth – never
using advertising. The two employees he first hired were our two sons, Walter and Peter. Walter later began his own construction
company and Peter eventually went on to be trained and work as a millwright in the paper industry.
How do I know so much about this man? In 1958, Juniors in high school, Dennis and I became high school sweethearts. In 1962,
Dennis and I were married. We were married fifty-eight years. Sadly, he passed away on September 7, 2020.
Dennis was a loving, kind, respectful, truthful and comical person. Two of the comical expressions he would say to me when I
would become involved in a discussion were “Stop Sal, you are breathing my air!” or “Smile, the air is good for your teeth!”
Where, when, how did Dennis learn to become such a fine human being? When he was nine, while at a summer bible camp at
Davidson Lake in Canada, he told me he found the Lord.
Dennis was not vocal about his salvation – he just lived it. This is the reason he became who he was.
One day during Dennis’s illness, I asked him a question, “How can you be so pleasant and kind when you are experiencing so much
pain and discomfort?” He waited awhile before he answered, “Through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His word.”
Thank you Dennis Emery White for loving me, calling me to be your wife, and the mother of your two boys.
Love always,
Sally
Linda St. Peter
Class of 1960 Rep

30 www.houltonalumni.com