John M. Carney, a Millsboro, Delaware native and longtime basketball coach and educator, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the age of 77, leaving his family and loved ones devastated.
While the cause of his death is not available, John M. Carney, known as Jack Carney, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 1, 1947, to his late parents, John and Catherine Carney, Jack Carney won the hearts of many with his amazing athletic skills and kind nature.
John ‘Jack’ Carney had a lifelong passion for sports and left a lasting impact both as a player and a coach.
A standout basketball player at Bishop Egan High School, Jack went on to play at Bloomsburg University, where he became a leading scorer during the 1966-67 season and earned recognition in PSAC records.
Furthermore, his love for the game extended beyond the court, as he spent years coaching youth sports and mentoring young athletes.
He served as the head basketball coach of William Penn High School in Delaware, and one of his most notable achievements came in 1976, when he led the William Penn girls’ basketball team to a DIAA State Championship with a hard-fought 53-48 victory.
In addition to his athletic career, John ‘Jack’ Carney devoted over 35 years to public education as a teacher and guidance counselor at William Penn School in the Colonial School District.
Likewise, his death has left a profound void in the lives of his family, friends, and loved ones. Many of Jack’s loved ones are recalling his memories and extending their heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time.
John M. Carney Leaves Behind His Longtime Wife, Diane, Five Kids, and Eleven Grandchildren
John ‘Jack’ Carney was an amazing husband to his longtime wife, Diane Carney.
Diane Carney, a graduate of the University of Delaware and Claymont High School, took to her social media to express her sorrow at losing her longtime husband.
She wrote: “With a heavy heart, I share that my husband, Jack, has passed away. He brought kindness, laughter, and love to every day we shared. I will carry his memory with me forever.“
The couple were happily married for over two decades and lived an adventurous life, travelling to different places.
In addition to being an amazing husband to his longtime wife, Diane Carney, the late John Carney was also a great father to his five children: three daughters, Beth, Stacy, and Kim; his stepdaughter, Alex Arthur; and his stepson, Joshua ‘Josh’ Wiggins.
John ‘Jack’ Carney and his first wife, late Donna Ellen Carney, were married for 33 years until Donna’s demise on March 30, 2003, at the untimely age of 55.
Together, late Jack and Donna raised all three of their daughters, Beth C. Arigo, Stacy A. Carney, and Kim Gillis, to be successful in their respective fields.
John ‘Jack’ Carney’s daughter, Kim Carney Gillis, has been serving as the communications and outreach director of Greater Salisbury Committee in Salisbury, Maryland, United States, since 2021.
Prior to her current position, Kim served as a senior associate and business development and marketing manager of Becker Morgan Group, Inc. for almost 22 years.
Kim Gillis earned her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Salisbury University-Perdue School of Business in 1999. She is happily married to Brad Gillis.
While very little information is available about Jack’s daughter, Beth Arigo, as she prefers to maintain a low profile, she lives with her husband, Andy, and their children in Sanford, Florida.
His daughter, Stacy Carney, followed in his footsteps, teaching and currently serving as an educator in the State of Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware.
Jack Carney was also a proud father of his stepchildren, Josh Wiggins and Alexandra Arthur, who are the children of his longtime wife, Diane, from a previous marriage.
His stepson, Joshua ‘Josh’ Wiggins, owner of a restaurant named Blue Water Grill in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and his stepdaughter, Alex Arthur, is a bookkeeper of SC Associates Tax and Accounting in Middletown, Delaware.
Alex Arthur earned her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences from Wilmington University in 2014 and her Associate of Arts from the University of Delaware in 2011.
John M. Carney is also survived by his eleven grandchildren, Emma, Lauren, Audrey, Jackson, Beau, Madi, Ashton, Connor, Ferris, and Keating.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In addition to his first wife, Donna, John ‘Jack’ Carney was also preceded in death by his stepson, Chris Wiggins, who passed away on June 1, 2018, at the age of 45.
- In lieu of flowers, the Carney family requests that donations be made to Seasonsfoundation.org in Jack’s honor.
