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March 19, 1934 – December 18, 2025
Harvey P. White, a visionary leader, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and one of the seven co-founders of Qualcomm, passed away peacefully at sunset on December 18, 2025 at age 91.
Harvey was born Sven Harvey Philip on March 19, 1934, in Providence, Rhode Island to Helen Marsh and Ake Philip. His parents divorced after several years, and he and his mother returned to Parkersburg, West Virginia where Harvey spent his childhood. In 1939, his mother married Gordon White, who legally adopted Harvey. Helen was a local newspaper reporter for the Parkersburg News, journalist, and photographer, and Gordon was in sales. In 1948, the family grew with the addition of his beloved sister Katherine. Harvey graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1951 and attended college at West Virginia Wesleyan before transferring to Marshall College where he earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1955. In 1956, Harvey married Frances Hamilton, a Vassar graduate, from St. Mary, West Virginia.
Shortly thereafter, Harvey began a career that spanned decades and industries. He began with roles in chemical processing and industrial engineering before transitioning to high-level management positions at companies like American Viscose, Raytheon, Sealy, Whittaker Corporation, and TRW. In 1972, Harvey and his family moved to San Diego where he became Group Vice President of Rohr's Industrial Systems Division, which also included their transportation business.
After Rohr's transportation unit closed, Harvey briefly owned a small business before he answered a classified ad calling for a VP of Finance at the communication company Linkabit. Harvey thus began his 20+ year working relationship with Irwin Jacobs, which helped establish San Diego as THE place for world-class wireless telecommunication industries. Harvey served as director, Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer while at Linkabit and oversaw its growth and eventual sale to M/A-COM.
In 1985, tired of working for bigger firms, Harvey and the six other co-founders established Qualcomm in a La Jolla Village storefront over a deli. During his tenure, Harvey served as President and vice chair and oversaw the global deployment of the OMNITracs trucking product, the advent and growth of CDMA cellular technology worldwide, and the development of Qualcomm's highly valued intellectual property system.
In 1998, Harvey led the spinoff of the cellular networks into Leap Wireless International where he served as Chairman and CEO. Under his leadership, Leap introduced the innovative Cricket Wireless Service, revolutionizing the wireless industry by offering affordable, customer-focused solutions. Harvey left Leap Wireless in 2004 and established his own consulting firm (SHWx2 Enterprises).
Harvey served on numerous corporate and institutional boards including Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC), BrainCorp, ViaSat, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), UCSD Rady School of Management, Salk Institute of Biological Studies, The Bishop's School, and the San Diego Padres.
In 2001, Harvey married his wife Sheryl on the stage of the Old Globe in Balboa Park. Together they supported many arts programs both locally and nationally, including underwriting the Sheryl and Harvey White Theater at the Old Globe. Harvey also served as the board president for the Old Globe as well as board president of the San Diego Museum of Art. Harvey was a strong believer in the value of education and supported various educational institutions including his alma maters of West Virginia Wesleyan and Marshall University.
Harvey played a mean game of racquetball and tennis. Although he was 6' 7" tall, he was a lousy basketball player. He drank Diet Cokes instead of coffee to start his day and never refused a homemade cookie. He told corny jokes before there were dad jokes. Harvey was smart enough to join MENSA and could answer almost every Jeopardy question. He was a long-time Padre season ticket holder and a faithful and ever-hopeful fan.
Harvey had an innate optimism about the world – things were always going to work out. He spent a lot of time mentoring people in the business world and loved to walk the halls of Qualcomm and Leap engaging with employees who universally admired him.
Harvey was survived by his wife Sheryl of Del Mar and his sister Katherine Grego of Okatie, South Carolina. He is also survived by his three children, Katherine White of Del Mar, Sarah White (David Gray) of San Diego, son Phil White (Ann) of La Jolla, and his stepson Greg Palmer (Kassie) of Madison, Wisconsin. Harvey was the proud and beloved grandfather to Benjamin, Zachary, Christopher, Isaac, Henry, Madison, Danny, Carson, Fia, and Evie.