"Gar" Edgar J. Kearney

"Gar" Edgar J. Kearney, 82, a retired editor of The Scranton Times, died Sunday. He and his wife, the former "Tish" Patricia Nealon, celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary Sept. 2.

Born Oct. 2, 1938, the Dunmore native was the son of the late Edgar L. and Helen C. McCarthy Kearney. He attended Scranton Preparatory School and graduated from Dunmore High School. He studied journalism at Penn State University, attended the University of Connecticut and served in the United States Coast Guard. Gar started as a copy-boy for the International News Service in New York City before becoming a correspondent for The Scrantonian-Tribune. He also worked at papers in New Jersey, upstate New York and Connecticut before returning to Scranton to work for the Times. Gar interviewed many luminaries, including presidential hopefuls, U.S. senators, professional sports figures, actors and President Richard Nixon in 1972 when he visited the Wyoming Valley in the wake of Tropical Storm Agnes. For the latter coverage he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

In the following years, Gar served as Sunday editor before retiring in 2001, and was a contributing writer for Good Times magazine. His greatest happiness came from his longtime wife, Tish, and being the father of three sons, Christopher; Colin and wife, Amy; and Kevin; and two grandchildren, Aidan and Reagan, all of Dunmore. He also is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. Though he was an only child, Gar shared his childhood home with his loving aunt and uncle, Clare Sullivan Loughney and Bill Sullivan, whose family he called his own. His book, "Trolleys Don't Come Here Anymore," is based on his early experiences growing up on Chestnut street near St. Mary's Church.

Gar credits his 30 years of sobriety to the support and lasting friendships of the Alcoholic Anonymous Payday Group. He also was the public relations director for the Lackawanna County/Scranton Eagles of the Empire Football League, a member of the Downtown Athletic Club, and a devoted fan of the Boston Red Sox and Notre Dame Fighting Irish football. He served on the board of directors of the Scranton Times Federal Credit Union and as honorary grand marshal of the 1992 Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Gar was a member of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Dunmore, and its Holy Name Society. He was the recipient in 2018 of the society's Gene Loughney-Pat Grady Memorial Award for his many years of service as an officer and member who exemplified the qualities of religious devotion, family and service to others.

Gar also served the church as an acolyte and eucharistic minister, offering communion to the homebound. He worked with the parish breakfast and annual picnic committees, and assisted at St. Mary's School.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated privately at the convenience of his family in St. Mary's Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Preferred memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children , 3551 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19140.

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