John A. Whitbread

Visiting Hours:  Saturday, March 9th, 2-4:30 & 7-9:30 p.m. at our West Sayville funeral Home.

Funeral Service:  Saturday, March 9th at 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

JOHN A. WHITBREAD

March 23, 1959 – March 1, 2019

The Sayville community sadly lost an active member on Friday, March 1, 2019, when Dr. John A. Whitbread, PhD, passed away at the age of 59. His contributions and volunteerism include Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Sayville Rotary, Sayville Library Trustee, Wet Pants Sailing Association Treasurer, Gift of Life host parent and more. 

John is survived by his loving wife of 19 years, Barbara (Kaminsky) Whitbread, their 14-year old twins, daughter Lindsay A. Whitbread, son Graham J. Whitbread and his parents Charlotte K. Whitbread and John R. Whitbread of Venice, Florida. He was predeceased by his sister, Cynthia A. Whitbread.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, March 23, 1959, John moved to the greater Sayville area at the age of 5. He ran track and sailed the bay with Wet Pants Sailing Association. John graduated Sayville High School in 1977, and graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas with a degree in Cell Biology where he was on the Sailing Team and worked with deaf children. John completed his PhD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York where he developed a lifelong love of sciences.

John did post-grad work at Mt Sinai Cancer Research, and enjoyed a long career in Global Health and Medical Affairs, focused in cardiovascular, diabetes and metabolic diseases. John had worked at Merck as a Medical Affairs Director for the past 5 years.

John enjoyed sailing, was a member of the Sayville Yacht Club and Wet Pants Sailing Association and was a member of well as many medical associations. He enjoyed golf, guitar, the blues, piano, working on projects around the house, science, teaching, boating over to Fire Island in the summers, cooking, technology and travelling the world with his family. He was a founding member and Vice President of the original West Sayville Civic Association, successfully saving the West Sayville Blue Points property from development in the 2000's.

His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those close to him. Share your stories of remembrance on Saturday, March 9, 2019 during public visitations from 2-4:30pm & 7-9:30pm, with an informal service at 8:00pm at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home, 245 Main St; West Sayville, NY 11796. See www.raynoranddandrea.com.  On Sunday, family, friends and coworkers are welcome to pay respects to the family home from 1-6pm.  Cremation will be private.

In lieu of flowers, and to help his kindness and spirit of community and volunteerism continue on, please consider making a donation to:

Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck; 2 Chet Swezey Rd, Center Moriches, NY 11934 

Wet Pants Sailing Association Inc.; PO Box 484, Sayville, NY 11782