James Robert Whitney ( IBM Jim ), 75, passed away on Saturday, November 22. The visitation will be held on Monday, November 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the rosary recited at 6:00 p.m., at MCALISTER-SMITH FUNERAL HOME, Mt. Pleasant Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m. at Christ Our King Church in Mt. Pleasant, with interment to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Mr. Whitney was born in San Pedro, California on November 5, 1933. He lived in California during his childhood, then moved to Summerville, South Carolina as a teenager. He served in The United States Army during the Korean War, then attended The Citadel on the G.I. Bill. A month after his graduation, he became an Instructor of Accounting in the Business Administration Department of The Citadel. After teaching for a year, he earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then returned to pursue his teaching career at The Citadel. He received his designation of Certified Public Accountant in 1962. In 1963 he was elected a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. During the 38 years that Mr. Whitney taught at The Citadel, he upheld the high ideals of honor, respect, and integrity espoused by the school, becoming a mentor and beloved role model for many students. Through the years, his former students attributed much of their business successes to what they had learned under his guidance and exacting standards of excellence. Many proclaimed him the best teacher they had ever had. And no matter how busy he was between teaching and his accounting practice, his office door was always open to both students and friends, and his sage advice was sought by many. Mr. Whitney exemplified gentlemanly conduct, honesty and in all that he did. He contributed to and served on the directing boards of many charitable organizations, including the South Carolina Chapter of the Kidney Foundation, which he helped to establish, and the Carolina Low Country Girl Scout Council. He was a devout Roman Catholic, a Fourth Degree Member of the Rev. P.N. Lynch Assembly of the Knights of Columbus, and a longtime participant in the Blessed Sacrament Church Perpetual Adoration. He was also a lifetime member of the Charleston Elks Lodge. He was a passionate fan of the Atlanta Braves and The Citadel baseball teams, and an avid fisherman. He was a fun-loving but formidable gamesman who enjoyed countless hours playing cards and Blokus with his grandchildren. He will always be remembered as a kind-hearted family man of unstinting generosity who loved nothing better than to be in a room full of loved ones and drop a wry one-liner that would leave everyone collapsing in laughter. Mr. Whitney was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Martha P. Whitney, and a daughter, Audrey Whitney. He is survived by eight children, Bernadette Faretra of Charleston, Carlene Anderson of Montclair, New Jersey, Russell Whitney of Nashville, Tennessee, Theresa Whitney of Charlotte, North Carolina, Andrew Whitney of Florence, South Carolina, Janice Fisher of Bolton, Canada, Melissa Whitney of Charlotte, North Carolina, and April Woodward of Laurel, Maryland; one brother, Howard H. Whitney of Rialto, California; one sister, Kathy Wheaton of Hanahan; ten grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation or the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy. On-line condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mcalister-smith.com. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths. Tags: 1958
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