Carney, Thomas Leo

Thomas Leo Carney, 69, of Bethlehem, Pa., died June 13, 2013, at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, Pa.

Born in Cedar Rapids, he was the son of the late Leo and Mildred (Ferguson) Carney. He married Dawn Kofron in 1966 and later divorced in 1998. Thomas graduated from Washington High School in 1961 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1967 and a master's degree in Library Science in 1968 from the University of Iowa. He was the library director at the Cedar Rapids Public Library for 17 years until 1987, as well as an adjunct professor of Library Science at the university for 10 years. Early in his career he also volunteered at the Anamosa Men's prison library.

Mr. Carney was a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and Iowa Library Association. He had served on the Cedar Rapids Rotary Club, the board of directors of The Salvation Army and the YMCA. In 1987, he moved to New Jersey, working as the library director for the Warren County Library and retired after 20 years.

He is survived by his son, Brent Carney and wife Rozalia of Bethlehem Township, Pa.; daughter, Brooke Kish and husband Warren of Evergreen, Colo.; brother, David Carney and wife Kathy, and sister, Patricia O'Brien, both of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, William and Isabelle Kish; and several nieces and nephews.

Services are private. The Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home of Allentown, Pa., is assisting the family.

Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1-(800) AHA-USA1.

Published June 18, 2013 in The Gazette