Dr. Thomas R. "Tom" Kearney

Dr. Thomas "Tom" R. Kearney, 75, died unexpectedly on Saturday, September 17, 2005 at Benedictine Hospital.
Born October 15, 1929 in Cork City, Ireland, he was the son of the late Dr. Joseph and Margaret (Callanan) Kearney. Tom received his leaving certificate in 1947 from Belvedere College, Dublin. He attended the National University of Ireland (UCD) and completed a medical residency at St. Vincent's and St. Kevin's Hospitals in Dublin. He completed a psychiatry residency at the Bethlem Royal Maudsley Hospital in London.
Tom immigrated to the United States in 1958, and completed an American psychiatry residency at the Seton Psychiatric Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. He worked as an attending psychiatrist at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut and Charter Northridge Hospital in Raleigh. He served as chief of psychiatry at the VA Domiciliary in White City, Oregon and head of the alcoholism unit at the VAMC in Salisbury, North Carolina. Tom was a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, and a Fellow at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh (FRCPE).
Tom was a friend of Bill's for the past 28 years, and dedicated his personal and professional life to helping rehabilitate those who suffered from addiction. He recently co-authored the book "The Parting Glass: A Guide Through Dependence and Co-Dependence". Tom was also an avid horseman and scholar. At the time of his passing he was teaching himself Finnish, having already learned Irish, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish and some German. He loved history and was able to discuss both ancient and modern history of the world. He was a great raconteur and passed down the stories of the family's participation in the Irish struggle for independence.
Over the years, Tom worked and traveled continuously throughout the United States and Ireland. He had recently moved to Rhinebeck to be closer to family. He continued to stay active in his career, working part time at the Rhinebeck Mental Health Clinic.
Dr. Kearney is survived by a daughter, Karin Johnson of Clinton, CT; two sisters, Peggy and Noreen Kearney of Dublin; a brother, Dr. Eugene Kearney and his wife, Joan of Baltray, Ireland; his brother-in-law, Joseph Collins of Eddyville; two grandchildren, Kristine and Alexa Adams; one niece, and eight nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Anne Kearney Collins.
Tom will be truly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.
There are no calling hours.
A memorial mass will be celebrated Saturday, October 15, 2005, 11:00 a.m., at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck. Inurnment will follow at the Rhinebeck Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your local humane society.
To sign the online register please visit www.dapsonchestney.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 W. Market St., Rhinebeck.