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Karen Blumenthal Obituary

BLUMENTHAL, Karen Karen Blumenthal, an accomplished journalist and author, advocate and volunteer, baker and stitcher, generous friend and devoted mother, died Monday following a heart attack. She was 61 and filled those years trying to make the world a better place. Karen spent 25 years in various roles at The Wall Street Journal, including Dallas bureau chief and personal finance columnist, and was a former business editor of The Dallas Morning News. Allergic to greed, corruption and empty promises, her writing cut through obfuscation and made challenging topics accessible to readers. She was a mentor to young journalists and an adjunct professor at three universities. She wrote 12 books for Macmillan, Random House and other publishing houses. She specialized in brilliantly telling compelling historical tales in ways that helped young adults make sense of a complex world. Her books won four top awards from the American Library Association. In February, The New York Times called her latest book JANE AGAINST THE WORLD, on the history of reproductive rights, ``gripping' and a ``legal thriller.' Earlier this month, her book BONNIE AND CLYDE won the 2020 Kentucky Bluegrass Award. She wasn't afraid to take on big problems. Frustrated that budget cuts had decimated the Dallas Public Library system, she collected data from around the country and showed the Dallas City Council not only how vital libraries are today to education and economic development but also how underfunded Dallas libraries were. Her efforts with the Friends of the Dallas Public Library resulted in millions of dollars in additional funds for public libraries, enabling longer operating hours and stronger collections. She fought tirelessly for a plan to replace the Forest Green Library in northeast Dallas and, at the groundbreaking, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Adam McGough said, ``We don't name libraries in Dallas, but this one should be named for Karen Blumenthal.' She was currently serving on the Municipal Library Board. She was a determined volunteer and passionate learner at Temple Emanu-El, where she served on the Board and chaired many committees. Karen loved the Cowboys, Mavericks and Duke basketball as well as hippos, chocolate and stitching. She was an expert needlepointer, studying with leading teachers around the country, and loved to give away gorgeous ornaments, pillows, wall-hangings and jewelry cases to friends. She won at least 10 ribbons at the Texas State Fair. She also believed good cookies could improve any meeting, illness, celebration or hardship. She was known for her toffee oatmeal chip cookies and almost never went to any event empty-handed. At Passover, she shipped boxes of the most addictive matzo toffee to friends and colleagues around the country. Karen was born and raised in Dallas. She was valedictorian at Hillcrest High School in 1977 and an Angier B. Duke scholar at Duke University. She earned an M.B.A. at Southern Methodist University while working at the Journal, raising a two-year-old and pregnant with her second child. At Duke, she was editor of The Chronicle and always said she found her two great loves at the student newspaper: a career in journalism and her husband, Scott McCartney. She later chaired Duke Student Publishing Co., and helped lead the non-profit, independent publisher of The Chronicle through the Great Recession. In 2009, Duke honored her with its Futrell Award for outstanding achievement in communications and journalism. She is survived by her husband Scott; her two daughters Abby McCartney and Jen McCartney, who will always be the center of her spirit and her greatest pride; her mother Beverly Blumenthal; brother Brad Blumenthal (Lynn); in-laws Harriet Duke, Meredith Smith and Jeff McCartney (Becky); nieces and nephew Maggie and Wesley Smith and Emily McCartney. She was preceded in death by her sister Pam Blumenthal and father Bob Blumenthal. To honor her life, contribu- tions can be made to Friends of the Dallas Public Library (supportdpl.org), Temple Emanu-El (tedallas.org) or Duke Student Publishing (dukechronicle.com). You can also salute Karen by working to repair the world and enjoying a great cookie.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Dallas Morning News from May 20 to May 24, 2020.

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Margaret

February 4, 2022

So many times over the past two years I´ve thought, "I need to speak with Karen." You left an indelible mark on me and I miss you, your wit, your compassion and among many other things, our conversations about books and family. You are loved!

Karen Troianello

February 2, 2022

I only just learned of Ms. Blumenthal's passing. Some years ago, my mother's book club chose "Let Me Play" as their monthly reading and asked for my input as a former college athlete who was part of a lawsuit against my university in the work toward equity in athletics. I loved the book, learned so much from it and have been recommending ever since. While our lawsuit used Washington State's equal rights amendment and not Title IX, we were of the Title IX generation. As Washington State University marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, with some recognition for some of the pioneers of women's athletics, I suggested the book once again. The university has now purchased 200 copies to give away to young people at the event, and the book will be used in a reading program with WSU athletes and local schoolchildren. Thank you to Ms. Blumenthal for her fabulous work. I often thought of writing to her to express my gratitude but I never did and I regret that.

May 24, 2020

Im so sorry for the loss of this brilliant woman. My prayers are with her family as they grieve.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Alison Victoria

Planted Trees

John Davis

May 22, 2020

What I would like to say is how much I regret and feel sorry for the sadness and pain that Beverly is having to live with. I can not make it go away. I will send loving and caring thoughts to you Beverly and the rest of the family who so loved Karen. My love to all of you. John

Deborah Brown

May 21, 2020

Karen touched the lives of all she knew and her zest for life was incomparable. She will remain in our hearts and in our memories forever. A bright light has gone out!

Dorothy Bland

May 20, 2020

Karen was a blessing to many, including students at the University of North Texas Mayborn School of Journalism. She helped nurture student interests in great reporting, writing and business journalism. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and inspired.

Margaret Whitehill

May 20, 2020

Humorous, intelligent, determined, talented, steadfast, reliable, honorable, humble, treasured = Karen. What a blessing you are. Well hold you in our hearts and carry you with us always.

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