Essie M. Garrett Whitelaw, who served as president and chief operating officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin and also served on numerous community boards recently died at the age of 78.

Whitelaw was president and chief operating officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin from 1992 to 1997 and also served as vice president of national business development for the organization.

She later served as senior vice president of operations of Wisconsin Physician Services, from 2001 until her retirement in 2010.

Prior to its merger into another public utility in 2000, she served on the board and on the audit, nominating, and retirement plan investment committees of WICOR Corp., a Wisconsin energy utility.

Whitelaw also served on the board of directors for Sensient Technologies Corp., Network Health, Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School and the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation.

She also served on the board for numerous nonprofit and community organizations including the Milwaukee Public Museum, Goodwill Industries, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Greater Milwaukee Committee, and Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment Corp.