An unusual and beloved figure of the South Slope passed away recently. Even the  The Daily News also has a story about him. Here’s an excerpt from what columnist Clem Richardson had to say about John Whitey Glendinning.

Six days a week, you can find John (Whitey) Glendinning working
his hustle on the west side of Seventh Ave. between 11th and 12th Sts.
in Park Slope. He keeps the sidewalks in front of businesses on that
side of the block clean.

Whitey also does other odd jobs, like sitting in double-parked cars
to ward off ticket agents while the car owner runs an errand or eats a
quick meal. He had more of a work load back when the South Slope was
more of a working-class neighborhood and more folks knew him. But many
of those people sold out and left.

Most residents who care to know Whitey have made his acquaintance –
on a good day, when his knees aren’t killing him, he’ll speak to you if
you don’t speak first. I can usually tell the new guys standing nearby
when I pass him because their eyes get really wide between the time I
say "Hey, Whitey!" and he replies, "How you doing, babe!" He knows my
wife and daughters well enough to notice when one of them has a new
hairstyle.

A few months ago, this column profiled another Park Slope resident
whom many of the folks on the block knew. The day after the column
appeared, Whitey stopped me as I was headed home and said: "Hey, Slim
(a variation of my name, no longer a comment on my girth). You write
for The News? You should do a story on me!"

On Park Slope Parents, there were comments about Whitey, too.  

I too, am so very sad to hear about Whitey. I talked with him just about every day for the past 10 years. What a dear and kind person! Whitey, you will be greatly missed by the community of 12th Street!!

There will be a memorial service for Whitey on Wednesday May 7th at the Naidre’s on Seventh Avenue in the South Slope. More details to come.