Gregory J. White, a doctor who helped promote breastfeeding on a national scale, died on June 16 from complications of leukemia. He was 82.
Fifty years ago, Dr. White encouraged his wife, Mary, and her friends to form a support group for mothers who wanted to breastfeed their babies. At the time, bottlefeeding was the norm. Reader's Digest wrote about the group and women from all over the U.S. wrote letters, asking for advice on the subject.
In 1956, Mary White founded La Leche League International, an organization that provides information about the benefits of breastfeeding. Dr. White served as a member of its professional advisory board for 46 years.
Dr. White also promoted home births, natural childbirth, the inclusion of fathers in the delivery room and the pro-life cause. He was the father of 11 children.
Posted on June 24, 2003 3:08 PMI am sorry to hear about Greg's death. He was a true friend. During the years that I was having problems with doing home births he was always a source of great wisdom as well as knowledge. He was one of my heroes.
George Wootan
Posted by George Wootan on January 7, 2009 3:17 AM