SOUTH DEERFIELD- David A. White, 72, of South Deerfield passed away on Friday evening at Baystate Medical in Springfield, surrounded by his family after a long, hard-fought battle with esophageal cancer. Harry or Hopper, as everyone knew him as, was born in Greenfield, a son of the late Donald F. White Sr. and Eleanor (Sharkey) White. Hopper grew up in South Deerfield, attending local schools and graduating from Frontier Regional High School. He furthered his education, graduating from the UMass Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Harry was a proud truck driver, operating for many area companies and farms over fifty years before retiring. Harry was a true “Sow Deerfielder”; and a driving force behind the military service members memorial signs in South Deerfield. He and many others saw the project through to completion. This project was borne out of love and devotion for the men and women, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country he loved so much. Hopper was a lifelong member of the South Deerfield Polish American Citizens Club, a member of the Memorial Day Planning Committee and the Mt. Sugarloaf Lighting Crew, proudly carrying on a decade’s long tradition in South Deerfield which is visible for miles around during the Christmas season. He married Christine Rudy on November 12, 1983, and they moved to Sugarloaf Street. In 1985, David and Chris purchased his grandfather’s house on Sugarloaf Street, which he was very proud of, and they raised their family there. David and Christine became devoted friends with their next door neighbor, Jack Panek, he has become a part of their family ever since, celebrating holidays, birthdays and quiet afternoons on the patio. He and Christine loved family vacations at Race Point, going on cruises and he especially loved gardening. He was an amateur town historian for South Deerfield and his own family as well, researching generations of White’s, Sharkey’s and Rudy’s. Hopper loved his fantasy football league and his many friends near and far. His favorite times were spending it with his family, especially on the patio at his home. He leaves his beloved wife and rock throughout his illness, Christine (Rudy) White. His devoted children; Stephanie White and his late son-in-law, Jerry Bird of Goshen, David White and his fiancée, Angela Zguro of Raynham, MA., Daniel White and his significant other, Erin Kilraine of Sunderland. His mother-in-law, Margaret Rudy of Avon, MA. His siblings; Donald “Skip” White of Greenfield, James White of Northfield and Mary Ellen Maynard of Conway, his sister and brother in laws, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, extended members of the White and Rudy families and especially his beloved dog Buster. David was joyfully anticipating the arrival of his first grandchild due in December, we know that his grandchild will have one of God’s toughest yet tender angel’s watching over them for the rest of their life. 

Calling hours for David will be held at the Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Rd., Northampton on Thursday, August 27, 2026, from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon immediately followed by a Religious Service at 12 Noon with Pastor Jack Cooper, officiant and a family eulogy by his brother, Donald “Skip” White (the infamous eulogist for so many South Deerfielder’s). 

Harry would ask if donations were to be made, please send them to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 1030.