September 6, 1932 – April 10, 2024
Thomas Victor Haney of Easton, MD, passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, in the company of his wife, Thelma. He was born in New York City and grew up in Englewood, NJ. As a teen, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1950 and attended Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, graduating with a BS in Natural Science in 1954. While at Muhlenberg, he met his wife, Thelma, on a blind date.
Tom earned a Master’s degree and studied for his PhD (ABD) in Microbiology from William Paterson College. He was drafted into the Army in August 1954. After basic training at Fort Dix, he was sent to Fontainebleau, France, where he was assigned to the 33rd Field Hospital-Seine Area Command. Tom persuaded Thelma to join him in France, and they were married by the Mayor of Fontainebleau in 1955.
After the Army, he began his 49-year career as a sales representative, color chemist, and designer in the plastics field. Tom and Thelma bought their first home in Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH. They relocated to Stratford, NJ, and then later to Succasunna, NJ. 1999 Tom and Thelma moved to Denton, MD, along the Tuckahoe River before relocating to Easton in 2014.
In Succasunna, Tom organized block parties and formed life-long relationships with other adults in the community. This tight-knit group called themselves the “Hitots” and enjoyed various trips worldwide together.
Tom raised four children. He volunteered as a Boy Scout troop leader, merit badge counselor, Sunday school teacher, and a mentor with Big Brothers. In Denton, Tom was a volunteer and chairman of the Fundraising Board for Caroline County Habitat for Humanity. He was also a docent at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. In 2012, he received the inaugural William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award, presented by the Comptroller of the State of Maryland for his work with Habitat for Humanity.
Tom was an avid athlete, running over 40 marathons. He was a rabid eater of novelty candies, including Necco Wafers, candy corn, and any cookie, pie, or cake. He was a lifelong enthusiast of nature, wildlife, and bad puns on all topics, including fish – but only on a small scale.
He is predeceased by his sister, Diana Haney, brother, Michael Haney, and nephew, Jim Haney. He is survived by his wife of over 68 years, Thelma (Smith) Haney; daughters Elizabeth McGibbon (Roddy) of Narberth, PA and Laura Rogers (Rusty Lather) of Fort Myers, FL; sons Kevin Haney (Doreen) of East Brunswick, NJ and Mark Haney (Gail Prensky) of Burtonsville, MD; grandchildren Anne and Ian McGibbon of Philadelphia, PA, Kaitlyn Haney of Washington, VA, Sean Haney of Boulder, CO, Ashley Haney of Jersey City, NJ, David and Scott Hardy of East Brunswick, NJ, Karen Hardy of Los Angeles, CA, Meghan Pachas (Brendan) and their daughters Octavia and Ellie of Middletown, VA; and niece Lynn Haney of Wilton, NH.
A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 4, at 1:00 PM at St. Benedict/St. Elizabeth Church in Ridgely, MD. Repast follows at 3:00 PM at Magnolia Manor at Londonderry in Easton, MD. Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to Caroline County, MD, Habitat for Humanity, and/or volunteering in one’s local chapter.