Walter Watson Karney, 87, of Rockville, Maryland, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2024. Born on September 18, 1936, Walter was the oldest son of the late Walter and Elizabeth (Husti) Karney of Derby, CT. Although born in Orange, CT, his family soon moved to nearby Derby. It was at Derby High School that Walt met the love of his life, Florence Dorso. They married in 1958 beginning their 66-year love affair.
After graduating from Wesleyan University, where he played baseball and football, he attended Yale School of Medicine and earned his MD. For 33 years he served in the United States Navy, initially as a naval flight surgeon and later as one of military medicine’s first specialists in infectious diseases. During his tenure as Chief of Internal Medicine at Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed) he led the team of physicians that cared for President Ronald Reagan. In addition, he taught at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS). His breadth of knowledge in infectious disease culminated in him helping to pioneer the Navy’s HIV/AIDS research and treatment programs in the 1980s.
His military service took Walter and his family to duty stations up and down both coasts as well as to Taiwan, instilling in him a love for travel and an appreciation for other cultures. Following his retirement from the Navy in the 1990s, Walt’s dedication to public health led to an additional 20 years of service as an infectious disease physician in both Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, MD, treating primarily tuberculosis and HIV patients.
Walter appreciated a good glass of whiskey with Flo after a hard day’s work. He and Flo enjoyed visiting family in Derby, traveling to Kiawah Island and the Outer Banks with their children and grandchildren, attending antique iron auctions up and down the east coast, and vacationing to warmer climates during the winter months. He enjoyed classical music and the poems of Robert Frost. He was an avid reader and an eager/competitive card player, whether it was Bridge with friends or “shooting the moon” in Hearts with his family.
Walter was preceded in death by his brother, Donald. He is survived by his wife, Florence, and their four children Eileen, William (Claire), Glenn and Thomas (Deborah), as well as six grandchildren and one great-grandson. He will forever be remembered for his joking personality, sharp intellect, selfless service, and endearing love for his family and friends. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
