Services to Be Held for Marchon Co-Founder, Jeff White
MELVILLE, N.Y.-- Marchon Eyewear Co-founder Jeff White, died yesterday after a brief illness. He was 54.

According to a statement from Marchon, White died at North Shore University Hospital, in Great Neck, New York.

For the past few years, White had not been active in the day-to-day operations of Marchon, but did hold a seat on company's board of directors. With his partners and co-founders, Larry Roth and Al Berg, White during his 20 plus years with Marchon was integral in growing the company in to one of the world's largest eyeglass and sunglass manufacturers and distributors. Al Berg said "It was Jeff's passion for technology and innovation that allowed Marchon, from its very earliest days, to have systems in place for service and distribution that would become legendary in the optical industry."

Jeff White is the son of the late Frank and Ruth White, founders of Avant-Garde Optics.

White literally grew up in the eyewear business. When his parents sold Avant-Garde, he had been working at their company with his brother-in-law Larry Roth, and high school friend, Al Berg. The three friends decided to start their own eyewear company. Marchon was formed and in a few short years had garnered prestigious license agreements with Calvin Klein, Disney FENDI, Nautica, Nike, X Games and most recently COACH and Michael Kors.

Larry Roth, White's brother-in-law and partner, said "Jeff had a wonderful spirit that will be missed by the team at Marchon, both within the company and in the field. It gave Jeff great satisfaction to be able to recognize the accomplishments of our sales people at Marchon's National Sales Meeting. Welcoming the sales reps in to the Presidents Club with genuine hugs and handshakes…celebrating the accomplishments of others inspired Jeff."

White graduated with honors from Ithaca College, on whose Board of Trustees he served. He was a founder of the Hadassah University Hospital, a co-chair of the Optical Division of the United Jewish Appeal and a Trustee of the North Shore University Hospital.

He is survived by his sister Helene White and nephew Benjamin and niece Frankie; his sister Nancy and brother-in-law Larry Roth, and nephews, Scott, David, and niece Jamie.

Services will be at the Nassau North Chapel in Great Neck, N.Y. on Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 at 10 a.m..

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the NSLIJ (North Shore Long Island Jewish) Foundation in Memory of Jeff White:

NSLIJ