Denair man, long devoted to the mentally ill, dies in Calaveras motorcycle crash
Denair resident Timothy White, 62, was killed in a motorcycle crash Saturday morning in Calaveras County, the California Highway Patrol reported.
White was a retired employee of Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. Its director, Ruben Imperial, said word of his tragic death spread quickly over the weekend.
“He had a passion for helping people connect with their community,” Imperial said. “He’s definitely going to be missed.”
White’s time with BHRS included serving as on-site manager of Bennett Place, an affordable housing complex for adults with mental health disabilities/problems, and as coordinator of the Friends Are Good Medicine Program, according to Bee archives.
Imperial said his former colleague was a dedicated man who made a difference. “He was a real strong advocate for those with behavioral health issues. He did a lot of work in our community to build peer support for those experiencing mental health issues.”
He recalled White as a “a pretty imposing figure, a big guy,” and added, “He was also a very proud (Army) veteran and had a heart for making sure we prioritized those (veterans) who needed services.”
Highway 4 crash
The crash occurred about 10:45 a.m. White was riding a 2007 Harley-Davidson east on Highway 4 east of Pool Station Road, between Copperopolis and Angels Camp.
When he approached a curve in the road, he abruptly applied his brakes, the CHP incident summary says, and his rear wheel locked up.
The bike slid out from beneath him and fell onto its right side, ejecting White, the CHP said. He and the motorcycle came to rest off the south side of the road.
White, who was wearing safety equipment, was pronounced dead at the scene. The CHP said alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash.
‘A great man’
White’s daughter, Nicole White, told of his retirement pursuits in an email to The Modesto Bee.
“He now spent his time watching his grand babies grow up,” she said. “He spent his free time riding his motorcycle ‘Salt n Peppa’ and serving his Lord at Freedom Church in Denair ... He will be remembered as a great man that loved without ends. He always made sure his family and friends were taken care of. “
A Facebook fundraiser has been set up to help White’s family with expenses.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 2:15 PM.
