After a brief illness, Peter Roy Carney
passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, in Vero
Beach, Fla.
Peter was a patriot born on July 5, 1931,
in Chicago, Ill., to Marie Murphy and William
Roy Carney. He was the grandson of
William James Carney who started Superior
Graphite Company where Peter would make
a significant lifelong career. Peter was an entrepreneur,
writer, businessman, polo player,
rancher, hunter and a true sportsman who enjoyed
skiing, fly fishing, tennis and golf.
He attended Lake Forest Academy until a
fire shut it down temporarily. He transferred
and graduated in 1949 from Canterbury
School in New Milford, Conn. In 1953, he
graduated from Princeton University where
he discovered his love for geology and was
president of Cap and Gown.
He joined the Army in 1953 and served
and rose to First Lt. Executive Officer in the C Battery of the 97th Field Artillery Battalion at
Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo., until 1955. After his service, he was an investment
analyst for Glore Forgan in Chicago before moving to Denver as a staff geologist for E.A. Polumbus
& Associates.
He married Marina Galitzine in 1957. After living in Denver for two years, he returned to
Illinois to run Superior Graphite Company. His storied and illustrious career spanned more than
50 years and transformed a sleepy graphite company into an industry leader by co-inventing an
innovative continuous carbon purification process.
Peter served on the board of Carney Management, LLC., the Foundry Education Foundation,
the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association, Lake Forest Caucus, Lake Forest Open Lands, Lake
Forest Symphony, Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and the Wyoming Chapter of
the Nature Conservancy. He was a member of YPO and later WBC/WPO/YPO Gold where he
served as president, and created a model forum, which generated intentional, committed friendships.
Peter was also a past president of the Black Butte Gas Company, Carney Ranch Company,
Casting Industry Suppliers Association, as well as for the CISA Export Trade Group and
Graphite Synthesis. He was a consultant for the United Nations Office of Technical Cooperation
in India, and a past executive committee member of the Business Industry Political Action Committee.
He was a lifelong member of the Coleman Lake Club where he also served as president.
Additionally, he served on the board for Lake Forest Academy, Canterbury School, Onwentsia
Club, the Chicago Club and was a lifetime member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
He was a man of faith, integrity, and stewardship and was deeply loved by friends, family
and anyone with whom he came in contact. He had a brilliant mind, quick wit, a mischievous
eye and an easy laugh. He considered his family one of his greatest accomplishments, where he
stood as the prominent pillar and moral compass.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Marina Galitzine Carney of Vero Beach, Fla.,
four children: Marina Carney Puryear (Jim) of Illinois, Kathy VandeMotter Carney of Texas,
Edward Carney (Laura Foster) of Illinois, and Sasha Carney Woods of Montana; his 12 grandchildren;
Nick Vernon (Monica), Chris Vernon (Erika), Marina Boo Vernon, Kelley Vande-
Motter Sudderth (Jim), Peter VandeMotter (fiancé, Kathryn Naughton), Murphy VandeMotter,
Maggie Carney, Sasha Carney, Peter Carney, Aleka Woods, W.J. Woods and Michael Woods.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers William and Otis, and his sister Jean
Mullett.
A Funeral Mass will be conducted at the Church of St. Mary, 201 E. Illinois Road, Lake
Forest, Ill., on Jan. 25 at 4:30 p.m., with a reception following. A private burial will occur on
Saturday, Jan. 26. A celebration of life is planned at the Riomar Beach Club, 2426 Ocean Drive,
Vero Beach, Fla., on Feb. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to VNA and Hospice Foundation https://www.vnatc.
com/foundation/foundation-specialty-services/memorial-gifts/, North Chicago Community Partners
http://northchicagocommunitypartners.org/, or the John M. Olson Fund, Coleman Lake c/o
Fleury, Singler & Company, PC, CPAs, 301 S Stephenson Ave., Iron Mountain, Mich., 49801.
Arrangements are entrusted to Reuland & Turnbough Funerals, Lake Forest, Ill., (rtfunerals.
com)
