Kiwanis Club President Michael Garey is humbled by the dedication and loyalty Longboat Dr. Jim Whitman showed the organization.
“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of our longtime friend and fellow Kiwanian, Dr. Jim Whitman,” wrote Garey to Club members following Whitman’s passing last Sunday, September 7.
Jim joined The Longboat Kiwanis Club in 2005 and, for the past twenty years, he has been a faithful and passionate member—always dedicated to the mission of helping children in need.
Beyond Kiwanis, Jim was well known on the island as a tireless advocate for responsible, accountable government. In fact, he was likely the only resident who attended every Town Commission meeting, ensuring that the citizens’ voice was always represented.
Jim avidly followed all of the Town Hall issues and regularly commented during the Public To Be Heard section of meetings.
Jim combined this civic commitment with his generosity of spirit, his concern for others, and his unwavering dedication to the island.
“Longboat Key has lost a great citizen and we have lost a great friend,” added Garey.
Jim passed with his wife, Deborah Di Carlo, at his side. The couple lived for the last two decades on Longboat’s North end. Jim studied medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and completed his Duke University Hospital Residency in Psychiatry from 1978-1982.
