Former Mayor Kevin White Dies at 82; Grew Up in JP and West Roxbury

Kevin White, Boston's mayor for 16 years, died Friday night. The New York Times reports he was surrounded by his family.

White grew up in Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury and may be best known for guiding Boston through the turbulent years of the busing crisis.

White was mayor from 1968 to 1984. One of his signature moves as mayor came the night after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. While many cities experienced deadly riots, White used a James Brown concert at the Garden to help instill calm. He suppressed turnout at the actual concert while arranging for live broadcast of it on television. The result: People stayed inside watching the concert instead of taking to the streets.

White had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's a decade ago.

Here are some links to coverage of White's life and career:

• Boston Globe — "Kevin White, Mayor Through Era of Change, Dead at 82"
• Boston Herald — Peter Gelzinis "Remembering Kevin White"
• NY Times — "Kevin H. White, Mayor Who Led Boston During Busing Crisis, Dies at 82"
• Boston Globe — "Some Say Hub Owes Debt to James Brown"
• Universal Hub — "Kevin H. White, Dead at 82"
• Boston Globe — Video: Brian McGrory Remembers Kevin White