Obituary for Andrew John Whittingham
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Andrew John Whittingham on February 23, 2021. Andrew touched a multitude of lives with his generous spirit and caring nature in his too-short time on earth. Those who knew Andrew well know that he was a ‘softie’, one who never refused a friend in need and always offered an outstretched hand to those who’d fallen on hard times.
Andrew attended Vassar College and Regents University, receiving his B.S. degree in Business. In the 1980s, he joined his father, C. Anthony Whittingham in building Joint Medical Products, a state-of-the-art hip and knee joint manufacturer (the S-ROM). (The company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.) He then worked for Johnson & Johnson as Sr. VP of Marketing, overseeing the integration of the S-ROM into the marketplace. He then joined Surgical Dynamics, Inc (a division of US Surgical Corp.) as VP of Sales and Marketing. His most recent role was President and CEO of C.A.W.L. Developments Inc.
As highly successful as Andrew was in the busines world, he left an even bigger mark on the lives he touched, both personally and through his extensive philanthropy. He carried on the legacy established by his parents, who were first-generation immigrants from Jamaica, where Andrew and his brother spent many happy summers with their cousins. He and his brother Michael and their families donated generously to many significant causes, including Norwalk Hospital’s revamped Whittingham Cancer Center, Stamford Hospital’s Behavioral Care Unit, The American Cancer Society, The Palace Theater, and Mill River’s Whittingham Discovery Center, in addition to many smaller local endeavors including Make-A-Wish, Chords for Hope, Dollars for Scholars and Billmeyer Memorial Foundation.
Andrew’s significant life accomplishments include his commitment to Board service for Norwalk Hospital/Western Connecticut Hospital Systems/Nuvance Health Systems. As current Vice Chairman of Nuvance Health Board of Directors and former Chairman of the Board of Western Connecticut Hospital Network (WCHN), his vision—to ensure that Norwalk Hospital and its sister hospitals served as premier, patient-focused centers—was unwavering throughout his 12 years of Board service. He also served on the Nuvance Executive, Governance, Finance, Executive Compensation and Investment committees. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of Norwalk Hospital, and on the Stamford Center for the Arts (Palace Theater).
When not involved in business activities, board meetings and hospital & community undertakings, Andrew enjoyed living his “semi-retired” life. Prime pastimes included spending time with his wife Robyn and enjoying the company of his son Adam and his daughter-in-law Catalina, along with tinkering with his electronic gadgets and driving his automobile collection.
Andrew will be sorely missed, but his most exceptional life story will live on in the hearts of those who know and love him.
Andrew is predeceased by his brother Michael and he is survived by his loving wife Robyn, his son Adam and daughter-in-law Catalina, and his sister-in-law Terran and nephew Paul Whittingham; his sister-in-law Andrea Porreca and his beloved nieces and nephews, Carly, Nicholas (wife Kate), Alix (husband Steve) and grandnephew Lucas Anthony.
Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road, Stamford, CT 06905 on Sunday Feb. 28 at 1pm. Livestream via http://fumcstamford.org/streaming/, or Zoom in at: Zoom.com Meeting ID 843 5151 5094 Passcode: AJW
In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted for The Whittingham Cancer Center (Norwalk Hospital), the American Cancer Society (Norwalk CT), and Make-A-Wish Foundation of CT.
PLEASE RESPECT OUR NEED TO ADHERE TO COVID PRECAUTIONS. PLEASE CHOOSE TO ZOOM IN IF YOU’VE TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF THE TRI-STATE AREA IN THE PAST WEEK, OR IF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYONE WITH COVID.
Andrew attended Vassar College and Regents University, receiving his B.S. degree in Business. In the 1980s, he joined his father, C. Anthony Whittingham in building Joint Medical Products, a state-of-the-art hip and knee joint manufacturer (the S-ROM). (The company was acquired by Johnson & Johnson.) He then worked for Johnson & Johnson as Sr. VP of Marketing, overseeing the integration of the S-ROM into the marketplace. He then joined Surgical Dynamics, Inc (a division of US Surgical Corp.) as VP of Sales and Marketing. His most recent role was President and CEO of C.A.W.L. Developments Inc.
As highly successful as Andrew was in the busines world, he left an even bigger mark on the lives he touched, both personally and through his extensive philanthropy. He carried on the legacy established by his parents, who were first-generation immigrants from Jamaica, where Andrew and his brother spent many happy summers with their cousins. He and his brother Michael and their families donated generously to many significant causes, including Norwalk Hospital’s revamped Whittingham Cancer Center, Stamford Hospital’s Behavioral Care Unit, The American Cancer Society, The Palace Theater, and Mill River’s Whittingham Discovery Center, in addition to many smaller local endeavors including Make-A-Wish, Chords for Hope, Dollars for Scholars and Billmeyer Memorial Foundation.
Andrew’s significant life accomplishments include his commitment to Board service for Norwalk Hospital/Western Connecticut Hospital Systems/Nuvance Health Systems. As current Vice Chairman of Nuvance Health Board of Directors and former Chairman of the Board of Western Connecticut Hospital Network (WCHN), his vision—to ensure that Norwalk Hospital and its sister hospitals served as premier, patient-focused centers—was unwavering throughout his 12 years of Board service. He also served on the Nuvance Executive, Governance, Finance, Executive Compensation and Investment committees. Additionally, he served on the Board of Directors of Norwalk Hospital, and on the Stamford Center for the Arts (Palace Theater).
When not involved in business activities, board meetings and hospital & community undertakings, Andrew enjoyed living his “semi-retired” life. Prime pastimes included spending time with his wife Robyn and enjoying the company of his son Adam and his daughter-in-law Catalina, along with tinkering with his electronic gadgets and driving his automobile collection.
Andrew will be sorely missed, but his most exceptional life story will live on in the hearts of those who know and love him.
Andrew is predeceased by his brother Michael and he is survived by his loving wife Robyn, his son Adam and daughter-in-law Catalina, and his sister-in-law Terran and nephew Paul Whittingham; his sister-in-law Andrea Porreca and his beloved nieces and nephews, Carly, Nicholas (wife Kate), Alix (husband Steve) and grandnephew Lucas Anthony.
Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 42 Cross Road, Stamford, CT 06905 on Sunday Feb. 28 at 1pm. Livestream via http://fumcstamford.org/streaming/, or Zoom in at: Zoom.com Meeting ID 843 5151 5094 Passcode: AJW
In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted for The Whittingham Cancer Center (Norwalk Hospital), the American Cancer Society (Norwalk CT), and Make-A-Wish Foundation of CT.
PLEASE RESPECT OUR NEED TO ADHERE TO COVID PRECAUTIONS. PLEASE CHOOSE TO ZOOM IN IF YOU’VE TRAVELED OUTSIDE OF THE TRI-STATE AREA IN THE PAST WEEK, OR IF YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYONE WITH COVID.