Michael Barry Carmody

Michael Barry Carmody

TAMPA, FL - Michael Barry Carmody, 73, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2012, after a valiant two year battle with brain cancer. Mr. Carmody was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he graduated from St. John's High School (now, Loyola College Prep). Following graduation from his grandfather's alma mater, Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, Mr. Carmody enlisted in the United States Marine Corps where he served proudly for three years and attained the rank of Captain. Upon his honorable discharge from the Marines, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation where he served with "Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity" (and humor) for thirty-three exciting and challenging years in offices including Minneapolis, Aberdeen, Kansas City and Tampa. Upon his retirement in 1998, Mr. Carmody was the oldest special agent in the FBI.

Mr. Carmody is survived by his wife of 40 years, Karen Welsh Carmody, formerly of Kansas City, Missouri; his son, Roderick Starmer Carmody and his wife, Emily, of Washington, D.C.; and his daughter, Elizabeth Carmody Carrere and her husband, Christopher, of Tampa. His grandchildren include: Caroline Anne, Matthew Hanlon, Harrison, John Carmody and Adelaide McKay, Genevieve Carmody and John Barry Carrere. His children and grandchildren were his proudest accomplishment and greatest joy.

He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Roderick Carmody and the youngest brother of his siblings who survive him: Arthur Roderick Carmody, Jr. (Mary), Josephine Gaughan Carmody and Thomas Gaughan Carmody (Katherine), all of Shreveport. He also leaves behind a multitude of tall tales for his twenty-eight nieces and nephews.

Mr. Carmody will always be remembered as a consummate Irish storyteller, lover and student of history, and a patriot with a fervent loyalty to the Marine Corps and to the FBI. As a collector of friends, he was greatly cheered on by their outpouring of good thoughts and prayers during these past two years. Mr. Carmody served on the local boards of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Davis Island Yacht Club and the Hillsborough County Emergency Medical Council. In addition, he was a Eucharistic Minister at Christ the King Catholic Church and was a Big Brother for over fifteen years. He is a member of the Tampa Yacht and Country Club, the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI and a past member of the Downtown Rotary Club and the Tampa Bay Committee on Foreign Relations.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to their Brain Cancer team, including neurosurgeon Dr. Steven Tresser, Dr. Christopher George, Dr. Edward Pan at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Radley Griffin, and Lifepath Hospice. The family would also like to acknowledge the TYCC fitness center staff for their kindness and vigilance during Mr. Carmody's weekly workouts which continued until shortly before his death.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, May 21 at Christ the King Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. with a reception immediately following in the Parish Center.

For those who desire to make a donation in Mr. Carmody's name, the family would like to suggest: FBI Agents Association Memorial College Fund, a fund established for the children of agents killed in the line of duty (P.O. Box 12650, Arlington, VA 22219), Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure (1717 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036), Loyola College Prep, 921 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101, or a local charity of your choice.