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Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
946 N Second Street
Rockford, IL  61107
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Biography

Connor Creighton White, age 24 of Machesney Park, passed away Friday, May 27, 2022 at his home. He was born on January 5, 1998 in Rockford, IL to Michael A. White, Jr. and Michele (Moore) White. Connor attended schools in Rockford and was a member of St. Anthony of Padua Church.

Ever since he was a child, Connor had an unfaltering drive to help others in need. Be it a companion through times of trouble, or even as simple as a shoulder to lean on, he was a guiding light in the lives of many; a light that glows stronger now than ever before. Though many qualities outlined the man that he was, above all he was an endearing and loving individual. He tirelessly devoted his life to building upon the lives of others; as a friend, as a brother, and as a son. And while at times he did not fully understand the love he had received, he was and is truly loved by those who were blessed to share in his time on Earth.

Connor had a profound way of expressing his love to others. Rather than build on himself, he would often pick up qualities from others that outlined the individual that he was; his love of music, history, and an incredible sense of humor you would only understand if you knew him for the man that he was. But this is not to say that he did not carry any qualities of his own; rather, his profound love and empathy for others and the world around him allowed him to embark on a journey that would develop him into an individual we all knew: a man who would carry our burdens alongside us, no matter the consequences to himself. To him, sharing a moment that held importance to someone else was more important than anything of his own.

Another passion Connor held in high regard was his love of music. Growing up alongside friends and family who played guitar, he was more than happy to dive head-first into the world of music. Over the years, the music in which he listened to quickly sculpted many aspects of his life; be it the folk-rock protest music of the 1960’s, the passionate heart-felt Texas blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan, or the raw, emotional impact of many grunge artists of the 1990’s. Through this medium, and as many of us do, Connor had found an outlet which not only gave him solace in times of need, but a connection through others that provided him understanding through troubled times.

Though he did not always know in which direction he should go in, he always took pride in that of which he had come from. He always had a distinct love of history; specifically, his own family history. He had taken deep pride in his Irish and Scottish roots, and would often speak of one day visiting the British Isles, to see lands of Cork County, Ireland and Argyllshire, Scotland; the lands in which his story had begun long ago. While others would talk about that night’s football game, he would speak of Richard the Lionheart leading the Crusaders to retake Jerusalem; or the battle of Bannockburn, the battle in which Scotland had won its independence. One who was not keen on discussing history, or not knowledgeable about these events may have strayed away; but to Connor, they were everything. They were his story, his identity.

When we think of heroes, we often think of individuals such as police officers, firefighters, or our veterans and active personnel in the military. However, the concept of heroism can be experienced in even the simplest of circumstances; and to that degree, Connor was no exception. If there is anything that we as the people who knew him can gather for ourselves, it is simply this:

Love is heroic. Love is carrying the groceries three blocks up the street when someone’s car battery is dead. Love is sitting alongside a friend undergoing an operation when no family can be there to support them. Love is a phone call, a text, a message sent reminding someone they are thought of. Love is mourning death, and through death celebrating life.

In the end, Connor taught us all that love, no matter how big or how small, is an eternal gift; one that many of us often take for granted. Love is what connects us all, it is the bed in which flowers our souls. And in his passing, Connor’s final lesson shows us that through acts of love, none of us are ever truly alone. And in our hearts, his flame will never wither.