John Whitman

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

John Russell Whitman (June 8, 1944 – July 2, 2015) was an American businessman and investment banker who served as First Gentleman of New Jersey from January 18, 1994 to January 31, 2001. Whitman has had a long career in banking and financial services, including working at Citigroup. Whitman is the grandson of Charles S. Whitman, 41st Governor of New York. He was the husband of former Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman.^[1]

Life and career

Whitman was born in Albany, New York in 1944,^[2] the son of Janet (Russell) and Charles Seymour Whitman, Jr., a New York civil court judge.^[3][4] He was a graduate of Yale University and received an MBA from the Harvard Business School.^[5] He 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.^[5] Whitman served as Chairman and CEO of Prudential-Bache Interfunding from 1987 to 1990.^[6][5] He also was the managing partner of Sycamore Ventures, an international venture capital fund incorporated in the Cayman Islands.^[7]

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.^[8] 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.^[9] In 1997, Whitman was appointed by his wife to head the fund raising committee to restore the dome of the New Jersey State House.^[10]

Together with his wife, he lived on a farm in the Oldwick section of Tewksbury Township.^[11] Whitman died in hospital at Morristown, New Jersey on July 2, 2015 at the age of 71. He had sustained a catastrophic brain injury on June 19 after a fall.^[12]

References

1. Fitzgerald, Barbara (3 February 2002). "There's a Big Stink At Whitman's E.P.A.". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
2. Slotnik, Daniel E. (July 3, 2015). "John Whitman, Investment Banker and Husband of Governor, Dies at 71". New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
3. "John Whitman, husband of former N.J. Gov. Christie Whitman, dies". NJ.com. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
4. "Whitman, Janet Russell". New York Times. October 3, 2004. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
5. "John Whitman". www.sycamorevc.com. Sycamore Ventures Pte Ltd. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
6. Peterson, Melody (February 16, 1997). "At Home: The Governor's Close Ties to Prudential". New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
7. Peterson, Melody (October 18, 1997). "Whitman's Husband Has Behind-the-Scenes Role". New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
8. Jones, Joyce (March 13, 1994). "For Governor's Husband, A World Cup Role". The New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
9. Dellapina, John (July 11, 1995). "Meaningful Meeting? Devils, Jersey Keep Negotiations Going". New York Daily News. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
10. Pristin, Terry (October 25, 1996). "Funds Sought for State Dome". New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
11. Friedman, Matt. "John Whitman, husband of former N.J. Gov. Christie Whitman, dies", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, July 2, 2015. Accessed July 10, 2015. "But Whitman, who lived with his wife on a farm in Oldwick, was a key player in his her first campaign."
12. ABC News. "John Whitman, Husband of Former New Jersey Governor, Dies". ABC News. Retrieved July 4, 2015.