David Munn, Cherry Hill library director

David C. Munn, director of the Cherry Hill Public Library from 1980 to 1989, spent many hours watching his son go around in circles.

From the time he was seven to 12, son Ward said, "I spent a lot of time in competitive speed roller skating," at rinks in Cherry Hill and Evesham.

"He would drive me all over the region, bringing me to speed roller skating events," so many that after a while, "he became a timer for the events."

On Saturday, April 12, Mr. Munn, 72, of Gloucester City, a career public librarian and author of local histories, died of cancer at his home.

"It was the local roller rink that had a team" in Cherry Hill, his son said, and one day after watching practice, "I said I'd join."

The competitions weren't just local.

"Every year," Ward said, "we'd end up in Eatontown," Monmouth County, for a competition. "We had a regional once in Erie.

"And there were national tournaments in Fort Worth a couple of times," when Ward's father was there, too.

"We would incorporate our vacations with that."

Though Mr. Munn didn't skate, "I believe he really enjoyed it."

Born in Woodbury, Mr. Munn earned a bachelor's in history at Rutgers University in 1965, a master's in library science at Drexel University in 1967, and a certificate in library administration from the University of Maryland in 1972.

He began his career with the Bureau of Archives and History at the New Jersey State Library, working as an archivist and historical editor from 1967.

After his Cherry Hill work, Mr. Munn was a community librarian at the main office of the Atlantic County Library System in Mays Landing and retired in the mid-2000s as its Hammonton branch manager.

Paul Schopp first knew Mr. Munn as a member of the West Jersey History Roundtable, which he said Mr. Munn helped found in the early 1970s.

Schopp said that, among Mr. Munn's several credits, the New Jersey Bureau of Geology and Topography in 1976 published his pamphlet, "Battles and Skirmishes of New Jersey."

The publication committee of Gloucester City in 1968 published his Centennial History of Gloucester City.

Mr. Munn was an editor of Camden County, New Jersey, 1616-1976, A Narrative History, published in 1976 by the Camden County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Since the early 2000s, he had been chairman of the Gloucester City Historic Preservation Commission.

And beyond his interest in local history, in 1981 Mr. Munn wrote A Partner in Protection Since 1880, a commissioned history of the Philadelphia Manufacturers Mutual Insurance Co.

"He was always ready to help anyone who wanted to research or write local history," Schopp said. "He was very giving in that way."

Besides his son, Mr. Munn is survived by daughter Melissa Medina, a brother, and four grandchildren. He is also survived by his former wife, Barbara.

A visitation was set from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19, at the Etherington-Creran Funeral Home, 700 Powell St., Gloucester City, before a noon memorial service there, with interment of ashes in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Gloucester City.

Donations may be sent to the Library Fund at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey Foundation, 101 Vera King Farms Dr., Galloway, N.J. 08205.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.creranfh.com.