James ‘Jim’ White of Hampton Bays Dies October 13 - 27 East
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Obituaries / Southampton Press / 2402329

James ‘Jim’ White of Hampton Bays Dies October 13

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James ‘Jim’ White

James ‘Jim’ White

authorStaff Writer on Oct 20, 2025

James “Jim” White of Hampton Bays died on October 13, after a long battle with cancer. He was 77.

Born on October 10, 1948, to Robert and Helen, he grew up in Southampton on a potato farm. He went commercial fishing with his father since childhood. The water was his life, his family said. He knew every ebb and flow of the tide and channels.

He had a passion for sailing and motorcyles, which was always in his heart. He went on to study marine biology at LIU Southampton. He then went into the U.S. Navy, and became a submarine mechanic, and worked on Navy helicopters rescuing soldiers during combat in Vietnam.

He returned back to the water as a commercial bayman, and worked as the head of marine maintenance at Southampton Town for over 35 years.

A long-time resident of Hampton Bays, he had a quiet wisdom and an easy smile, his family said, noting that he was a humble man who made friends everywhere he went. “He was the salt of the earth,” they said.

He is survived by his wife Beth; daughter Rebekah (and her husband Tom); and his grandchildren Quint and Aurora.

A graveside service and celebration of life will be held at Good Ground Cemetery in Hampton Bays on Saturday, November1, at 10:30 a.m.

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