Mary Carmody Harris
Mary Carmody Harris passed away Friday, July 23, at home in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., surrounded by her sons, James and Brian, and her husband, Miles. Mary was born in Sandy Hook, to Arthur and Ruth Schmidt Carmody.
After earning a master’s degree in social work and moving to Orange County, Calif., in 1976, she pursued her passion to improve the lives of children, ultimately serving as deputy director of Orange County Children Services and later as director of San Diego County Children Services.
Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. In addition to Miles, James, and Brian, Mary is survived by two grandchildren, Lauryn and Owen Harris; daughter-in-law, Katie Harris, of San Juan Capistrano; and her two brothers, David Carmody, of North Haven, and Richard Carmody, of Brookfield.
I only learned today – almost a year after Mary’s passing. I am so very saddened. Mary was the kindest, most compassionate, funny, and giving friend and professional who I met just out of graduate school. I was leading a County of Orange Health Care Agency grant to plan and implement an Early Intervention Program for at-risk infants and toddlers and she agreed to participate in the grant-required County-wide task force. I can remember vividly her spirit and enthusiasm for the work and her support of me as a new professional. She had such a great sense of humor – once when offering to drive to one of our many meetings she had baby toys and things in the front seat. She smiled and told me to simply move them to the back seat and told me her greatest gift in life was being a mother. I will never forget Mary and this finding today leaves me shocked and number but so grateful to have worked with such an inspirational person! What a blessing she was to this world!