In Memory of

Gladstone

Tovey

Whitman

Obituary for Gladstone Tovey Whitman

Gladstone Tovey Whitman, known as “Whit” to most, passed away peacefully at home on June 9, 2018, at the age of 91.
Born on March 1, 1927, Whit attended South Mountain Elementary School, South Orange Junior High School and Columbia High School in South Orange, N.J.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946, Whit graduated from Lafayette College in 1949 with a B.A. in economics despite many studious hours spent in the Rock Room at the Chi Phi fraternity. He earned an M.B.A. from New York University in 1957.
On a dare from his brother, Whit became a purser on a freight ship and made two voyages to Calcutta after college. It was during this time that he developed a love for world travel and curry dishes.
Whit’s distinguished professional career included a position as analyst at Dun and Bradstreet (1950-1953). From 1953 to 1974, he served as commercial loan officer and vice president at Chase Manhattan Bank. In 1974, he was named chief financial officer and director of United Artists Communications, Inc., and held the position until retiring in 1986. He simultaneously served as chief financial officer and director of Academy-award winning Todd-AO sound studio and chief financial officer of Magnum Pictures Inc.
Whit was an original member of Sea Girt Elementary School board of education in the early 1970s, where he formed many lasting friendships.
Whit was a passionate proponent of free market economics. His legacy includes the Gladstone Whitman Summer Fellows Program at Ursinus College and the Gladstone T. Whitman ’49 Fund at Lafayette College, which provides internship opportunities and other programming for students. He was inducted into Lafayette’s Société d’Honneur in 2000.
After retiring, he continued to travel the world, read voraciously, follow the stock market, play bridge, agonize over politics, watch Lafayette football, attend the race track, exercise regularly, and send frequent joke emails to friends and family.
Whit met his wife, Sally, in 1955 on the Sea Girt beach. They married in 1963. Over the past 55 years, Whit proved himself an extremely devoted husband, displaying tremendous love, loyalty, compassion, and patience during Sally’s long illness.
Whit will be remembered for his love of learning, his sense of humor and his ability to find the perfect joke for any occasion.
He leaves behind his wife, Sally Guthrie Whitman; two daughters, Wynne Whitman of Spring Lake, N.J., and Stacy Whitman (Ted Kelley) of Hailey, Idaho; three grandchildren (Whit, Jamie and Reese Kelley); two sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins.
Whit was predeceased by his parents, Beatrice Tovey Whitman and Robert P. Whitman, and his brother, Robert P. Whitman, Jr.
Whit’s life will be celebrated at Spring Lake Bath and Tennis Club in Spring Lake, N.J., on July 26 at noon. In lieu of flowers, Whit would have appreciated donations made to The Gladstone T. Whitman ’49 Fund at Lafayette College, Markle Hall, Easton PA 18042.