Thomas Roy Harney

Born in Aberdeen, South Dakota, on July 17, 1929, he lived in nearby Wagner, along with his older sister, June, and parents Roy and Charlotte Lillian Harney.

Thomas Harney was a product of the Shaker Heights, Ohio, school system, where the family later settled. He played football and pole vaulted on the track team there, and then graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School in South Orange, New Jersey, in 1948 where he also played football.

Shortly after graduation, his family moved to California, where Thomas attended San Jose State University (then known as San Jose College), where he received a B.A. in Business Administration in 1952. After graduation, he served as Captain in the Air Force Reserve for two years. He later returned to the university and earned an M.A. in School Administration in 1964. As an undergraduate, he had met his future wife Carol (Pace) Harney, but they only began dating when they both returned in 1958 for their teaching credentials.

On August 16, 1958, Thomas and Carol were married and became parents of three daughters.

Thomas began his teaching career at South Tahoe High School, where he also coached the junior varsity football team and the varsity track team. He later served as vice principal at Riverbank High school in Riverbank, CA, and continued his teaching career in the Bay Area’s San Mateo Union High School District. Primarily an English teacher, he also taught math and driver education. Among his most satisfying achievements, he said, was developing an English literature course devoted solely to California authors such as Jack London and John Steinbeck.

While teaching full time, Thomas earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1981. He was a member of the State Bar Associations in California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, and Washington, D.C. After retiring from teaching, Thomas worked as a real estate broker and would later practice law in Denver.

He and his family moved around the state, living in San Jose, Lake Tahoe, San Mateo, and Modesto, before settling in Foster City in 1969 for nearly 20 years, where Thomas and Carol raised their three girls. As empty nesters, they longed to return to the Santa Clara Valley and moved to San Jose in the late 1980s, though they lived briefly in Denver and Palm Desert, CA, before returning to San Jose permanently in 2002.

After Carol passed away in 2003, Thomas continued to live and thrive in his beloved Valley of Heart’s Delight in San Jose.

Among his many interests, Thomas had a lifelong devotion to education and spent the last decade philanthropically, donating scholarships to middle and high schools locally and around the state, as well as supporting local and national charities. He was active in his community, acting in local dramas, serving as lector at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in San Jose, and contributing articles to community newspapers, including the Evergreen Times and The Villager.

Thomas had a natural flair for storytelling, always injecting his well-timed humorous anecdotes, especially at family gatherings. He held strong opinions on politics and current events, and was an avid editorial letter writer and community activist. He also had an incurable soft spot for animals and their welfare.

In addition, Thomas was a lifelong athlete and continued to compete in Senior Olympic events into his 80s, including the pole vault, high jump, and swimming.

Thomas was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and he was a loyal friend to many. His kind and passionate spirit will be missed.

Thomas is survived by his daughters, Kimberly Harney (and son-in-law Bruce Cabral), Katherine Houghtby (son-in-law Michael Houghtby preceded him in death in 2011), Patricia Harding (and son-in-law Barry Harding), and six grandchildren: Julia, Elise, and Will Cabral; Julian and Conrad Houghtby; and Ian Harding. Carol, his wife of 45 years, his sister, and parents preceded him in death.

A private burial was held at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi once shelter-in-place restrictions have been lifted.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association in honor of Thomas Harney.