RIT mourns the loss of Trustee and Chair Emeritus William Whiteside

RIT is mourning the loss of Trustee and Chair Emeritus William Whiteside, who died Dec. 4. The RIT flag will be lowered in his honor on Dec. 9.

Mr. Whiteside, who was a partner in the law firm of Fox Rothschild LLP for 40 years and head of the firm’s labor and employment law department, was elected to RIT’s Board of Trustees in 1989 and served as board chair from 1994 to 1997. He was named a trustee emeritus in 1997.

A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Whiteside was equally devoted to family and civic responsibilities. He became associated with RIT through his children, first Christopher “Gump” Whiteside ’85 (criminal justice), and then Mary Whiteside Carroll ’86 (business administration-retail management). Mr. Whiteside remains the only RIT board chair whose initial connection with the university was as a parent.  

During his board service, Mr. Whiteside participated on the Student Life committee (chair), Campaign Steering committee, Executive Compensation committee (chair), Government Relations committee, and Conflicts of Interest committee. In 2003, he received the Nathaniel Rochester Society Award, along with his late wife, Eileen, for outstanding service to RIT. He was also a trustee of RIT Croatia, which he was instrumental in forming in 1997, and made several trips abroad in service to the campus Mr. Whiteside and his wife were generous supporters of RIT over the last 40 years, especially to student-related activities such as athletics and campus life facilities.

Mr. Whiteside was chairman and former Man of the Year of the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia. He served as president of the Philadelphia Alumni Club of the University of Notre Dame; on the Board of Directors of Wissahickon Skating Club, where he was a charter member of its Hall of Fame; and on the Board of Trustees of Germantown Academy, serving as its president for five years. In addition, he was a trustee of LaSalle College High School.

Mr. Whiteside was preceded in death by his wife, Eileen; his son Rick; and his sisters Ann and Sperky. He is survived by five children: Bill Whiteside (Barbara), Mike Whiteside (Sue), Muffin Oppenheimer (Paul), Gump Whiteside (Betsy), and Mary Carroll (Parker), and by 11 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and by his sister Mimi Pruett.

Calling hours are 9 to 10 a.m. on Dec. 9, at St. Genevieve Church, 1225 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, Pa., followed by a Mass at 10 a.m. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Police Athletic League of Philadelphia.