Graham W. Whitehead, 86; Retired President of Jaguar North America; Old Greenwich Resident

From Fred D. Knapp & Son Funeral Home.

Graham W. Whitehead, 86, passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at Greenwich hospital surrounded by his immediate family.

He was the husband of Gabrielle (Gay) O. Whitehead for 63 years.

Born in Kidderminster, England in 1928 he was the son of James W. Whitehead and Mary P. Stonehouse both of the United Kingdom.

He had a lifelong career in the automobile business beginning as an apprentice at Woolsey Motors in Birmingham, England. In 1959 he moved with his family to the United States with the British Motor Corporation and stayed with the company as it became British Leyland, Jaguar Rover Triumph and then Jaguar Cars where he was the North American president until his retirement in 1990.

He served as president of the British-American Chamber of Commerce and the St. George’s Society and was involved in the early days of the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. He received a CBE from Queen Elizabeth in 1978 at Buckingham Palace.

His favorite sport was sailing and he loved racing and cruising on Long Island Sound. He was a member of the Greenwich Cove Racing Association and Riverside Yacht Club. He was an active member of the Friends of Greenwich Point and the Retired Men’s Association and also served as a shellfish warden for the Town of Greenwich. He had a lifelong love of music, especially jazz and also enjoyed travelling the world for business and pleasure.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his son Michael W. Whitehead of Thomaston, ME and daughter Jane W. Guenther of Fairfield, CT and 3 grandchildren whom he adored: Tiyana, Geoffrey and Emily.

A memorial service will be held in the Chapel at Christ Church Greenwich, 254 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, on Thursday, July 16 at 11 a.m.

Donations in Graham’s memory may be made to Friends of Greenwich Point, PO Box 711, Old Greenwich, CT 06870. www.friendsofgreenwichpoint.org.