Charles A. White
February 25, 1932 ~ July 28, 2023
Charles A. White, distinguished English teacher at Barrington High School, who made a memorable impression on scores and scores of students, passed away July 28, 2023. He was 91.
Mr. White began his teaching career at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights then came to Barrington High School in 1962. Mr. White taught all levels of English at Barrington, but his specialty was the senior elective course, Major British Writers. He was passionate about the writings of authors such as Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Geoffrey Chaucer, Samuel Beckett, T. S. Eliot, Thomas Hardy, Henry James, and, of course, William Shakespeare. He developed and designed a “theater-in-the-round” room and had students recite, perform, and memorize important pieces of poetry, prose, and dramas. Mr. White served as English Department Chairman during a particularly remarkable period of Barrington High School as he helped guide and shape the direction of the rapidly growing school. During his career, Mr. White taught abroad several times, once on a Fulbright Exchange in England, as well as in Munich, Vienna, and at the American International School in Salzburg.
Mr. White provided a spark of inspiration and was co-founder of an innovative and award winning course, “Junior English and the Interrelated Arts”, still featured at Barrington High School. As conceived by Mr. White, the course became a team-taught collaboration between the English and Art Departments. Underlying philosophical connections were explored in American literature, art, architecture, theater, opera, and even in Shakespeare. It was his belief that such connections provided meaningful access for readings and writings in, particularly, American literature. Students also learned to use the cultural environment of Chicago to attend live performances of dramas, symphonic music concerts, opera, and exhibitions, including an architectural walking tour snaking through Chicago’s Loop designed as a architectural treasure hunt. Being an opera aficionado and expert, Mr. White took students to the Lyric Opera twenty-eight years in a row. A natural and informed tour guide, he also took students abroad during many summers. A list of former students is far too lengthy to mention, but many became dear friends and contacted him often long after they graduated. Indeed, former students of his are all over the world and still consider themselves part of his “family.” Many seemed proud to keep Mr. White appraised of their respective professional accomplishments.
Never one to hide his opinion, Mr. White served for many years in various volunteer community positions including the Barrington Area Library Board of Directors during a time of rapid growth. He was particularly influential in the library expanding into an architecturally award-winning facility.
A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, September 14 with visitation from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a short service following at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 149 W Main St, Barrington, IL 60010.
His entire obituary can be found here.
Mr. White was one the finest educators Barrington High School students have ever experienced. Comments posted to the Barrington High School Alumni Facebook page announcing his passing (seen here), show how his passion to teaching is remembered fondly.
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