McCarthy, John Patrick, 77, of Cambridge, September 1, 2014. Survived by his loving daughters, Moira McCarthy Combes and Meaghann McCarthy and his grandchildren Zachary, Ayla, Cora, and Liam all of Virginia. Beloved brother of Thomas F. McCarthy and his wife Mary of Centerville and Mary McCarthy Fleming and her husband Leo of Towson, Maryland. Cherished uncle of Elizabeth, Michael and William Fleming. Former husband of Paula Burke.
John grew up in Roslindale where he fondly recalled playing football, basketball, and stickball on the neighborhood playground. He graduated from English High School in 1954 and joined the Coast Guard where he served aboard the U.S.C.G.C. Gresham. Upon release from active duty he earned his Associates Degree at Massachusetts Bay Community College in 1963 and his Bachelor of Art’s from The University of Massachusetts in 1968. He went on to earn a Master’s in Education from Antioch University in 1982.
A 20 year member of the English High School faculty, John was a teacher, mentor, coach and friend to students and colleagues alike: a person who truly made a positive impact on the lives of others. He had a second career with the U.S. Postal Service and upon retirement moved to Virginia for several years to be closer to his daughters and grandchildren.
He was an avid reader of history, spy and crime novels and a devoted NPR listener who was always ready to engage in conversation on any topic. John had a wry sense of humor, an encyclopedic knowledge of sports statistics, and he never stopped being curious about the world around him.
John was a true gentleman. He always had a twinkle in his brilliant blue eyes, and would whistle a cheerful tune as he took you on a 5 mile walk through Boston or Cambridge all the while insisting your destination was “just down the block.” He knew all the best places for coffee, scones, pancakes, ice cream and apple pie. He was a die-hard Red Sox fan and a sportsman in his own right as the star pitcher for his English High School Faculty and Boston Park League teams.
Most of all, John is remembered as “the best of the best” by all who knew him.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on November 28 at St. Theresa’s Church, West Roxbury, interment to follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org
www.lawlerfuneralhome.com