Obituary
Herbert Whitehead, former executive with Dairylea and Dellwood Foods, has passed
Mr. Whitehead was interested in every aspect if the dairy industry, taking college courses in business administration and dairy sciences at Rutgers College at night.
When Herbert Whitehead started at Dairylea in New York City in 1947, the 23-year-old had no prior knowledge of the milk business. Handing him a price list, his boss said "walk into any place that looks like it sold milk." Later, he managed Dairylea plants in Woodside Queens and Goshen, N.Y.
Mr. Whitehead was interested in every aspect if the dairy industry, taking college courses in business administration and dairy sciences at Rutgers College at night. He completed his degree in 1956.
He joined Dellwood Foods, Yonkers, N.Y., in 1972 as vice president. His management duties included plant operations, sales and contact with farmers. He eventually became president and CEO and retired as chairman of the board in 1988. Mr. Whitehead’s standard advice to his many friends, business acquaintances and family members was to “stay out of trouble."
On May 16, Mr. Whitehead passed away at his home in Paramus, N.J., surrounded by his family.
He was born July 16, 1924 in Jersey City to the late Catherine and Herbert Whitehead. The younger Mr. Whitehead attended St. Michael's High School in Jersey City where he was a scholar athlete excelling in track.
He was a founding parishioner of R.C. Church of the Annunciation in Paramus where he served as an usher for many years. He was a WWII veteran, serving in the US Army 294th Combat Engineers. He fought in five campaigns in Europe including the Normandy invasion, the Battle of the Bulge and was on the troop ship the Susan B. Anthony which was sunk. He later continued his service in the Army Reserves as well as volunteering at The NJ Veteran's Home of Paramus for 20 years.
He is survived by his daughters Kathy Ludwig and her husband Ed (Demarest), Rita Garland and her husband Rich (Bethel, CT), Regina DiPasqua and her husband Bob (Hackensack); sons Don Whitehead (New Milford), Ken Whitehead and his wife Pat (Demarest); and Rich Whitehead and his wife Maria (Maywood); 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and five siblings: Bernice Lord, Peggy Persico, Marie Sloan, Ronnie Taperino and Bob Whitehead.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years Eileen Whitehead (McLinden) and his daughters Anne Skennion and Theresa Whitehead.
Services were held at Vander Plaat Memorial Home.
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