Joel White JR.

Joel Edward White, Jr., retired neurosurgeon, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2011 at his home in Durango, Colorado. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on January 14, 1935 and attended schools there. Dr. White earned a B. S. from Ohio Wesleyan College, a M.S. in Neurophysiology from Ohio State University, and an M.D. from Ohio State University. He did his residency in Neurosurgery at Ohio State University. He served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged.

Dr. White practiced for many years in California at St. Josephs Hospital in Burbank and White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. While at St. Josephs Hospital, he performed over 3000 surgeries for spinal cord stenosis, as well as pioneering microscopic techniques for cerebral artery bypass for stroke patients. He taught neurosurgery residents at University of Southern California and he was chief resident of Neurological Surgery at Columbus General Children’s Hospital. He was a member of the American Medical Association, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Phi Kappa Psi, and Harvey Cushing Society.

Dr. White moved with his wife to Durango in 1996 and had an active neurosurgery practice for five years. He was an accomplished photographer and had his first one-man show in Los Angeles with an emphasis on black and white photographs. He exhibited locally at Fort Lewis College Art Gallery and Open Shutter Gallery.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Marilee Jantzer White; his daughters, Christine Van Peursum of Thousand Oaks, California and Jennifer Urbanski of Raleigh, North Carolina; his stepson, Richard Jantzer, Jr. of Costa Mesa, California; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his brother, David White of Grass Valley, California. His daughter, Kimberly White, preceded Dr. White in death. He leaves behind a circle of friends, colleagues and family who will remember him for his courage and dry wit.