Route to Retirement

Personable Avalon Mail Carrier Calling It a Career After 31 Years

Greg White will soon be retiring as an Avalon mail carrier.

His planned final day on the job has moved around a bit, but the current target date is Wednesday, May 1. That’s when Greg White, a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in the southern end of Avalon, will call it a career.

Listening to him talk about his customers on his route, it’s easy to understand how his career has stretched out more than three decades.

“I enjoy my job, I really do,” he says. “I like to joke around with the customers on my route. I have fun every day.”

Joking aside, there’s also a serious part to White’s rounds.

“You come to realize that some folks, especially in the winter, that I’m one of the few people that they encounter. It’s important to spend five minutes with some of these people,” he points out. “Nothing deep, just casual conversation, talk about the family, that kind of thing. But the time spent is important to them.”

Greg White delivering the mail to one of the houses on his route.

As you might expect, some people like to extend that five minutes, just a bit. “And I’m OK with that,” he says. “The interaction is important to them, so I make the time for them.”

Postal procedures obviously can’t include “in-house” delivery but from time to time it happens.

“Yeah, I’ve always had a couple of customers that needed me to bring their mail in to them,” he says. “The extra effort is important to them – so I tried to accommodate as many as I could.”

White’s dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed, as former Avalon Postmaster Melissa Lomax writes:

“It’s been an honor working alongside Avalon mail carrier Greg White for the last one-third of his remarkable 30-year postal career. Greg proudly served in the United States Air Force for five years with additional service as an inactive reservist. Greg’s attention to detail, when delivering the mail, managing his customer’s forwarding was especially highlighted when he paid special mind to ensure that his postal uniform was kept in the utmost tip-top shape; right down to his shoes that he polished several times a week. This care and consideration he provided is just a glimpse of the pride that he has for our country as a military veteran and for the service that he provided as a dedicated United States Postal Service mail carrier. Throughout every season Greg continually ensured his customers a reliable mail delivery service, with a sincere, friendly smile. On behalf of the entire team at the Avalon Post Office we wish Greg a most enjoyable retirement alongside his wife Terri, his children and grandchildren.”

Always Cincinnati fans! Left to right: Terri, daughter Danielle, Greg, sons Jeffrey and Joey, and daughter-in-law Chelsea.

The Postal Service is a business that has dramatically evolved over White’s 31 years on the job. Back in 1994, most of his deliveries were letters or envelopes. Today, with the advent of online shopping, White might deliver as many as 175 parcels on any summer day in addition to the normal cards and letters.

Although the business has changed, it’s also served him well. White’s wife Terri is from Cape May Court House, and they met while he was in the Air Force in Utah. While dating, White made it clear that he intended to return to his native Cincinnati following his tour of duty. At the same time, Terri made it just as clear that she planned to head back to Cape May County. Guess who won?

“I didn’t know anything about New Jersey at the time,” he explains now, while pausing briefly from his route in the Avalon Post Office. “My vision of New Jersey was like something outside of New York City – steel and concrete.”

Imagine his surprise after crossing the Betsy Ross Bridge into rural Salem and Gloucester counties.

“My initial thought was – hey, this looks just like Ohio,” he says with a smile.

And 41 years later? He just shrugs his shoulders.

Greg with a striper he caught.

Back in New Jersey, White started a painting company. The work was good but spotty, especially in the winter months.

“We got married and started having children,” he says, four to be exact. That’s when he decided that he and his growing family needed more security. “I realized that the Postal Service would offer me that security.”

So, he took the Postal Service test and landed a clerk’s position in Egg Harbor City. White remained in that position in western Atlantic County for about a year-and-a-half until several carrier positions opened. One such position landed him at the Avalon Post Office in 1993.

The rest, as they say, is history.

“I had a great career,” he says. “I enjoyed my job and the people that I delivered to.”

Now he’ll look to replace the five to seven miles that he walks each day on his route to keep in shape: “My kids, who are grown, we enjoy playing disc golf – which is great exercise. And I’ll probably add some biking.”

That’s the physical side to retirement. The Whites also plan to travel, and then there’s his boat. After all, this is Cape May County. His last fishing expedition was in December last year, so pencil in some time to fish, too.

“As I said, I’ve had a great career,” he concludes. “I enjoyed every day that I came to work.”

Who could ask for more than that? All in all, you’d have to say that Greg White is a pretty lucky guy. But you could say the same about all the people on his route over 31 years. He’ll be missed on the streets of Avalon.