Dr. David Allen White (1948–2025)
Traditional Catholic Author, Scholar, and Defender of the Faith

Dr. David Allen White, esteemed Catholic author, literary scholar, and champion of tradition, passed away on February 11, 2025. His passing marks the loss of a profound voice in traditional Catholicism, whose love for truth, beauty, and the faith influenced many.

Early Life and Education
Born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1948, Dr. White earned his B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1970, followed by an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. He completed his Ph.D. in English Literature at Indiana University in 1981. His academic journey included teaching positions at Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and Temple University. He dedicated 29 years to the English Department at the United States Naval Academy, where he was known for his deep knowledge of Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and other literary giants¹.

Conversion to Catholicism
Dr. White’s conversion to Catholicism in 1979 was a pivotal moment in his life. Raised in a liberal Protestant household, he had little religious training. A transformative encounter with a knowledgeable student at Temple University challenged his secular beliefs and led him to explore the Catholic faith deeply. This journey culminated in his reception into the Church, where he found spiritual fulfillment². Reflecting on his conversion, Dr. White once shared how the traditional Latin Mass profoundly impacted him:

“The old Mass, for me, at that moment, was entirely new. It was not ‘old’. It was home! At that instant, I knew that this is what the Catholic Faith is all about.”²

Authorship and Literary Contributions
As an author, Dr. White made significant contributions to Catholic literature. His notable works include:

• Mouth of the Lion: Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer & the Last Catholic Diocese, which chronicles the heroic resistance of Bishop Antônio de Castro Mayer to modernist changes in the Church³.
• The Horn of the Unicorn, a study of the life and legacy of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre⁴.
• The Voice of the Trumpet: A Life of Bishop Richard Williamson in Four Movements, a comprehensive biography of Bishop Williamson, with whom he had a long-standing collaboration⁵.

He also served as the editor of Shakespeare A to Z, an essential reference for Shakespearean studies⁶.

Influence and Legacy
Dr. White’s scholarship and eloquence made him a sought-after speaker at Catholic conferences, where he expounded on the connections between culture, literature, and faith. His writings and lectures inspired countless individuals to seek the true, the good, and the beautiful in both spiritual and intellectual life.

Dr. White now joins in eternity the great defenders of the faith—Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Bishop Richard Williamson, and Bishop de Castro Mayer—whose cause he so passionately championed.

✠Requiescat in pace.

1. David Allen White (Editor), Shakespeare A to Z, Facts on File, 1990.
2. Catholic Family News, A Tribute to Dr. David Allen White (1948–2025), February 12, 2025.
3. Our Lady of the Rosary Library, Dr. David Allen White’s Conversion Story, retrieved February 2025.
4. David Allen White, Mouth of the Lion, Angelus Press, 2005.
5. David Allen White, The Horn of the Unicorn, 2006.
6. David Allen White, The Voice of the Trumpet: A Life of Bishop Richard Williamson in Four Movements, 2019.