John Whitman

John Whitman
First Gentleman of New Jersey
In role
January 18, 1994 – January 31, 2001
Preceded by Lucinda Florio
Succeeded by Diane DiFrancesco
Personal details
Born John Russell Whitman
(1944-06-08)June 8, 1944
Albany, New York, U.S.
Died July 2, 2015(2015-07-02) (aged 71)
Morristown, New Jersey, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Christine Todd
(m. 1974)
Relations Charles S. Whitman (grandfather)
Education Yale University
Harvard Business School (MBA)
Occupation businessman

John Russell Whitman (June 8, 1944 – July 2, 2015) was an American businessman and investment banker. He was also First Gentleman of New Jersey as the husband of former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman.[1][2] from January 18, 1994 to January 31, 2001. Whitman has had a long career in banking and financial services, including working at Citigroup.

Biography

Whitman was born in Albany, New York in 1944, John's grandfather, Charles S. Whitman, was the 41st Governor of New York.[1] and Charles Seymour Whitman Jr., a New York civil court judge.[3] John had a brother (Charles S. Whitman, III) and a sister (Janet Whitman).[3]

He earned a bachelor's degree from Yale University, graduating in 1966.[1] He then served as a first lieutenant in the US Army during the Vietnam War.[1] He received an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1971.[4][1]

Whitman began his banking career with Citicorp in 1972, eventually rising to Vice President in charge of the Corporate Finance Department of Citicorp International Bank Ltd. in London.[4]

Whitman knew his future wife socially before they had their first date, which was at President Richard M. Nixon's inaugural ball in 1973.[1] Whitman married the former Christie "Christie" Todd in 1974.[3] They resided on a farm in the Oldwick section of Tewksbury Township, New Jersey.[3] They had a son, Taylor, and a daughter, Kate, and six grandchildren.[3]

Whitman served as Chairman and CEO of Prudential-Bache Interfunding from 1987 to 1990.[5][4] He also was the managing partner of Sycamore Ventures, an international venture capital fund incorporated in the Cayman Islands.[6]

During his wife's term as Governor of New Jersey, Whitman held no official role in her administration. He was appointed by his wife as co-chairman of the New Jersey World Cup Host Committee in 1994.[7] He also mediated the 1995 negotiations between the New Jersey Devils and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority that kept the Devils from moving to Nashville, Tennessee.[8] In 1997, Whitman was appointed by his wife to head the fund raising committee to restore the dome of the New Jersey State House.[9]

On June 19, 2015, Whitman fell, resulting in a catastrophic brain injury.[10] He died in a hospital at Morristown, New Jersey on July 2, 2015 at the age of 71.[3][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Slotnik, Daniel E. (July 3, 2015). "John Whitman, Investment Banker and Husband of Governor, Dies at 71". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ Fitzgerald, Barbara (3 February 2002). "There's a Big Stink At Whitman's E.P.A." The New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Friedman, Matt (July 2, 2015). "John Whitman, husband of former N.J. Gov. Christie Whitman, dies". NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved July 10, 2015. ...Whitman, who lived with his wife on a farm in Oldwick, was a key player in her first campaign.
  4. 1 2 3 "John Whitman". sycamorevc.com. Sycamore Ventures Pte Ltd. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ Peterson, Melody (February 16, 1997). "At Home: The Governor's Close Ties to Prudential". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ Peterson, Melody (October 18, 1997). "Whitman's Husband Has Behind-the-Scenes Role". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ Jones, Joyce (March 13, 1994). "For Governor's Husband, A World Cup Role". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ Dellapina, John (July 11, 1995). "Meaningful Meeting? Devils, Jersey Keep Negotiations Going". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  9. ↑ Pristin, Terry (October 25, 1996). "Funds Sought for State Dome". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "John Whitman, Husband of Former New Jersey Governor, Dies". ABCNews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
Preceded by
Lucinda Florio		 First Gentleman of New Jersey
1994–2001		 Succeeded by
Diane DiFrancesco
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