Mayor White Recalled As Energetic Leader Who Shaped Boston

Nearly 200 people lined Beacon Street, from the Parkman House to the State House, to pay their respects today to former Boston Mayor .

A bagpipe played as people chatted, and local politicians remembered White as an important and energetic leader who shaped the Boston we know today.

"Kevin White set the blueprint for the city," said Mayor Thomas Menino. "We've followed that blueprint over the years."

He recalled playing many a game of golf with White.

"He was a great mentor for me," Menino said. "We had a lot of good personal times together."

Boston City Council President Stephen Murphy also shared fond memories of White.

"He was one of the most dynamic and energetic leaders the city has ever seen," Murphy said. "He transformed Boston from a manufacturing base to a world class city."

Congressman Mike Capuano, D-8th, said he knew White's children better than White himself, and that White's children are a testament to how great a man he was. 

"For me he was a role model," Capuano said.

White was mayor for 16 years, from 1968 to 1984, and may be best known for guiding Boston through the turbulent years of the busing crisis.

The wake is open to the public from 2-8 p.m. at the Parkman House at 33 Beacon St., Boston.

The funeral is open to the public, and will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Cecilia Parish in Back Bay, followed by a gathering at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. The burial will remain private.