Joseph Hart Patrick Carney
January 10, 1939 ~ May 30, 2010
Joseph P. Carney died peacefully on Sunday, May 30, 2010 at his home in Fairfax, VA after a long illness. He was 71 years old. Dr. Carney was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1939 to Edward Francis Carney and Marion Johanna Carney. Dr. Carneyheld a Ph.D. in African Studies from St. John's University, NY, and M.S. in American History from Scranton University, PA, and M.A.s. in Religious Education and Theology from the Maryknoll Graduate School of Theology and the University of the State of New York.
Dr. Carney lived a life of adventure and kindness. His passion was to help others, and he worked tirelessly to improve education in the developing world. He began his career as Maryknoll missionary priest in Tanzania and served as vice-rector of Maryknoll seminary in Ossining, NY. Dr. Carney married his beloved wife Suga in 1976, and then joined the United States Foreign Service in 1978. During his time as a diplomat, he worked with USAID and the Office of Overseas Schools, serving in Jamaica, Indonesia and numerous countries throughout Africa. At his retirement in 2009, Dr. Carney was the Director of the Office of Education of USAID and a U.S. representative to UNESCO.
Dr. Carney is survived by his widow, Suga, and two children and their respective spouses, Dr. Mark F. Carney and Jennifer Maskell Carney and Hana M. Carney and Bryan L. Adkins; one beloved grandchild; his sister Ellen Carney Kissane; his sister-in-law Marguerite Carney and seventeen loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302, 1 800-214-0390, On the memo line-in memory of Joe Carney.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Dr. Carney lived a life of adventure and kindness. His passion was to help others, and he worked tirelessly to improve education in the developing world. He began his career as Maryknoll missionary priest in Tanzania and served as vice-rector of Maryknoll seminary in Ossining, NY. Dr. Carney married his beloved wife Suga in 1976, and then joined the United States Foreign Service in 1978. During his time as a diplomat, he worked with USAID and the Office of Overseas Schools, serving in Jamaica, Indonesia and numerous countries throughout Africa. At his retirement in 2009, Dr. Carney was the Director of the Office of Education of USAID and a U.S. representative to UNESCO.
Dr. Carney is survived by his widow, Suga, and two children and their respective spouses, Dr. Mark F. Carney and Jennifer Maskell Carney and Hana M. Carney and Bryan L. Adkins; one beloved grandchild; his sister Ellen Carney Kissane; his sister-in-law Marguerite Carney and seventeen loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers, PO Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302, 1 800-214-0390, On the memo line-in memory of Joe Carney.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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My “big” cousin left me with a bagfull of memories…A positive force — and, in that of my children, Suzanne Marie Franus and Patricia Fenton. Bob and I extend our love to his beloved Suga –and to his children, Mark and Hana. He left himself within them…and surely walked his Savior’s walk… Anne Marie
My deepest sympathy to Joe’s wife, Suga, and family. I had the pleasure of meeting Suga and reuniting with Joe, my high school track team captain 18 months ago in Brooklyn, New York. He was still as warm and irreverent as 52 years earlier.
Dear Family, I was a year behind Joe at Glen Ellyn and have wonderful memories of him – a cheerful, big-hearted guy. I always looked up to him. My condolences to you on the passing of this good man. Yours truly, Tom Dunne
Dear Suga, Mark and Hana, I was deeply shocked today to learn of Joe’s passing. I send you my deepest sympathy. Joe was a dear friend and mentor; a superb specialist in international educational planning. He will be remembered by countless people for his many outstanding achievements and contributions. I must be out of town on the day of his memorial service but I shall be with you in spirit. My heart goes out to you and your families. Emily
Joe and his family are in my prayers. His contributions will live on in the countless persons who have received an education through the many programs he developed. May he rest in peace. Paul Silva
Life is a garden, good friends are the flowers, and times spent together life’s happiest hours, and friendship, like flowers, blooms ever more fair when carefully tended by dear friends who care. Life’s lovely garden would be sweeter by far if all who passed through it were as nice as Joe. Dr. Carney will be missed as friend, colleague, and all around human being. God Bless and keep Always. Sincerely!
Suga, Hana, and Mark, I send you deepest sympathies. For me, Joe was a mentor and a cherished friend. In the 80s he was a masterful guide for all of us working to develop local leaders through the peace scholarship programs in Latin America. When Dona Violeta came to power in Nicaragua in 1991, he insisted that a special program for ex-Contras and ex-Sandinistas be designed and implemented to make up for classroom years lost to war. It was a fabulous success resulting in almost 600 graduates (by now are middle-aged) who are successful in diverse professions and as activists in their communities. After that I had the opportunity to work with Joe in Indonesia where he helped the University of East Timor receive support to develop their faculty and establish laboratories so students could do field work. The years following those experiences, Joe was kind enough to give me advice and his take on what I was doing as well as ideas and possibilities as I was adjusting to becoming an independent consultant. I remember he once pleaded with me to “take the longer assignments†as living through the short-term ones for him…was too stressful! I am so touched to have had the opportunity to learn from Joe and to have witnessed a man who lived what he believed—love of family and love of humanity. Peace be with all of you, Elizabeth Robinson
Suga,Mark,HanaOur thoughts,prayers and hearts go out to you all.Joe was one of a kind.I was lucky to be on the track team with Joe at Holy Cross College.Lots of fond and lasting memories within all that will give you the energies and spirit to continue on during this time of great saddness and loss.Joe ran the race and finished with a victory that will stay with you forever.He was one of the kindest,selfless,giving person I have met. Love and hugs to you all as our arms are around .Joe is smiling down on us as We raise a glass to his being.I will miss him.Dick
Dear Suga, My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Joe was one of the legends at Brooklyn Prep, and I was so happy to see him at our Memorial Dinner for our beloved Coach Murt Lawrence. Joe even read a nice letter addressed to him by the Coach. He was one of my heroes at BP.He will be missed. Again my deepest condolences, and I am sure that all the members of the Brooklyn Prep Spiked Shoe Club wish you and the family their deepest sympathies.
Dear Suga, Hana, Mark and families I am a more distant relative, just beginning to learn about my American Carney cousins, but very sorry to lose the chance to get to know Joe. I will hope to correspond with you in the near future, and one day hopefully, meet you all. Sincerest condolences
Suga, Mark and Hanna, I was babtized by your husband/ father 40 years ago and I am grateful to have known him. Dr. Carney was a dear friend of my father’s, Jim Griffin, and a kind and generous soul to me and my family. A great man has left this earth for the heavens. He will not be forgotten.
Suga, Hana and Mark – My deepest sympathy is with you and your family during this difficult time. We were all lucky to have known him and our lives were even more blessed with the time that we got to spend with him. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. Best, Amanda Shifflett (Denne)
To the Carney family, please accept deepest condolences from the education team at USAID. Joe touched us all in so many ways. His commitment to helping the least fortunate of the world’s children set an agenda for a generation of education officers. This was a man who dedicated his life to making the world a better place. He attacked the problems associated with illiteracy and ignorance with passion, wisdom, perseverance and unmatched wit. Every officer who was fortunate to come in contact with Joe marveled at both his brilliance and good humor. Joe believed that it was possible to change the world for the better and this optimism was an inspiration to all who followed in his footsteps. Please know that the work that he pioneered around the world will stand as an enduring legacy. The children that he helped educate will become parents who have a passion for learning and they in turn will pass that to their children and grandchildren. The impact of Joe’s work will endure through generations and we will all be the better for it.
Dear Carney Family, I was so sorry to learn of Joe’s illness and passing. We were friends for many years at Rockaway Point, N.Y. I still have a crucifix that he gave me for my wedding. He was a wonderful guy. He will be missed by all who knew him.
I am sad to hear that Joe endured a lengthy illness and extend my deep sympathy to his family for his loss. Everytime I met him while he was REO for Africa at the Office of Overseas Schools, I was impressed with how very perceptive, analytical, and kind he was. I was director of the State Dept.-supported American International School of Freetown, in Sierra Leone, when a violent coup d’etat took place one Sunday in May, 1997. I had to get up the hill on Monday to pick up some things I’d left at the school, and was just opening the door when the phone rang. It was Joe on the phone, calling from Washington to ask how I was and what the situation was, and whether I would be evacuating along with the rest of the expatriate staff and families. When he heard I’d be staying, his first question was, how can we help you stay? That question led to grants which figured strongly in enabling AISF to survive the war in Sierra Leone. He didn’t have my home phone, and we had no cell phones in those days. What made me go up to the school, and what made him call, at just that moment on that morning of fear?