James P. Cooney, 68, professor at MCCC

James P. Cooney, 68, of Harleysville, a professor of English and philosophy at Montgomery County Community College, died Saturday, Jan. 19, of complications from kidney cancer at home.

In his 46 years as an educator, Mr. Cooney turned down offers to be dean or vice president. "His focus was always on teaching," said his son, Gregory Cooney of Flagstaff, Ariz. "It was important for him for people to never go without education."

Mr. Cooney taught through the end of the fall semester and had no intention of retiring, his son said.

His English courses have mostly focused on American literature before the Civil War, with texts by the Founding Fathers, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville.

In the 1990s, he helped found the philosophy program at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC).

Mr. Cooney was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and earned a bachelor's degree in 1966 from Le Moyne College.

He taught composition at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh from 1966 to 1968, while working on a master's degree in English. Over the next decade, he completed doctoral work at Carnegie Mellon University. He later taught at the State University of New York at Oswego and Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Mass.

In 1973, he joined MCCC, where he served as head of the philosophy and English programs and president of the faculty senate. For the last few years, he had been teaching online courses.

In addition to his son, Mr. Cooney is survived by his wife, Maryann; two daughters; seven grandchildren; a brother; and a sister.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22, and 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave., Lansdale. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Church, 493 E. Main St., Lansdale. Interment will be private.

Donations in Mr. Cooney's name may be made to the Salvation Army in Norristown or to Catholic Charities USA, Box 17066, Baltimore, Md. 21297.