Walter H. Haber, 97, a former public library director and an avid bicyclist, died on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, at the Cornwall Manor retirement community in Cornwall, PA. He was the devoted husband of Barbara J. (Angle) Haber, who passed away in 2017.
Walter Haber was born in Woodhaven, Queens, NY, on June 19, 1928, to the late Frederick and Emma (Korn) Haber. He was a 1946 graduate of Woodrow Wilson Vocational High School in Queens, a 1952 graduate of New York University’s business school, and a 1964 graduate of the Pratt Institute of Technology, where he earned a master’s degree in library science.
Haber enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1946 and served as an electronics technician. He went on to become a field service engineer at Avien Inc. for 10 years beginning in 1953. In a career change after receiving his master’s, he took a position as a reference librarian at Great Neck Library in Great Neck, NY, then became the director of the New Milford Public Library in New Milford, NJ, from 1965 to 1970, and the director of the Baldwin Public Library in Baldwin, NY, from 1970 to 1986.
Upon retiring in 1986, he and Barbara moved to her parents’ home in Mount Gretna, PA, and he became one of the few people to experience more years of retirement than work. He was an active member of the Lebanon Valley Bicycle Club, the Cornwall Iron Furnace Association, and the Swatara Watershed Association.
Along with his beloved wife, he enjoyed sailing, bicycle touring — including a cross-country trip — traveling abroad, attending the theater, roller skating at the Mount Gretna rink, skiing on the rail trail, seeing movies, and swing dancing.
A resident of Cornwall Manor since 2015, Haber’s later years were largely spent reading, keeping up with the news, attending exercise classes and lectures, visiting regional attractions, and rooting for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever basketball team.
Surviving are his daughters, Jill M. Coffey (husband, Thomas), of New York, NY, and Holly A. Haber, of Dallas, TX; and grandchildren, Dashiell Pashley, of Dallas, TX, and Skyler Coffey, of New York, NY.
A graveside service will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. A procession will form at 12:30 p.m. at Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 618 E. Main St., Annville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Haber’s memory to your local public library.
