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EULOGY
for
Dr. James McCarthy
Delivered by his Brother - Fr.
Bill McCarthy, MSA
at
Pope Pius X Church -
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts
June 11, 2010

On
behalf of the Gorman and McCarthy families, Monsignor John Smith
– family friend and former Pastor; on behalf of the present
Pastor, Fr. George, we offer to you Jimmy, Billy, Christopher
and Mary Ellen and your families, to you Janet – Jimmy’s beloved
wife, to my sisters Mary Anne, Alice and Kathleen and your
families and all the relatives and friends of my brother as well
as myself sincerest sympathy.
We
are made by God with these very fragile hearts that are made to
love. When someone
is taken from us, we go through a whole gamut of emotions:
sadness and shock, grief and depression, loneliness and
doubt; yet St. Paul reminds us that we must not grieve as others
who have no hope in the Resurrected Christ who said, “I am the
Resurrection and the Life, and any one who puts their faith in
Me shall live forever.”
Yes, through the Death and Resurrection of Christ, we
pass over to eternal life in Heaven where eye has not seen, nor
has ear heard, nor has it every entered into the minds of men
the glories, the happiness and the bliss that God has prepared
for each one of us who love Him.
Yes, Jimmy is still alive and will be alive forever.
What a consoling and yet true thought.
You and I will live forever and forever in that realm
where love, joy, peace, happiness, companionship and on-going
wisdom will be ours forever with Jesus, Mary, all the Saints,
all the Angels and all our loved ones who have gone before us.
Jesus said, “If you put your faith in Me and follow My
footsteps, you will live forever; for I am going ahead to
prepare a place for you in My Father’s House.”
Yes, in Heaven there will be music and exaltation,
worship and praise, love and delight without end.
That is why Jimmy was baptized.
At his Baptism the Holy Spirit entered into him to give
him a share in supernatural life to enlighten his mind with a
new kind of wisdom; that of Christ Himself, and to enflame his
heart with a new kind of love, and to empower his spirit with
the Spirit of God Himself.
That is why Monsignor Smith just greeted his body
enshrouded with the sacred Pall.
His Family
He
was born the third day of the third month in 1936, the third
youngest and the third oldest child of William John and Alice
Elize Cote McCarthy at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Ct.
His family was very religious and very devout.
Jimmy worked for a time at the family bakery in Hartford
with his mother, grandmother and aunts.
Jimmy was blessed with four wonderful children – Jimmy,
Mary Ellen, Billy and Christopher and was a grandfather to many.
His Education
He
attended Our Lady of Sorrow Grammar School and Hall High School
before going on to New Britain Teachers’ College, St. Thomas
Seminary and College, Fairfield University and College,
Springfield College and then in Administrative positions at
Lyndonville College, Missouri State Western College and the
University of Massachusetts.
All parents wish that their sons would go to college, but
little did they realize that their third son would go to
college, go to college, go to college and go to college.
Jimmy will be fondly and lovingly remembers for his deep
devotion to higher education beginning as head of the Department
of Education at Lyndon State College then as Dean of Students he
became Executive Vice President at Missouri Western State
University with a contagious enthusiasm and loving spirit to all
the faculty and students.
His was the voice of the students who will long remember
him.
A Meaningful Poem
When he was four times three, he said, “The whole world looks
good to me. Oh, but
the sky seems vast.
But then how could he know the older that you grow that
childhood was not meant to last.”
And the Lord brushed by and said to him, “Jimmy, another
door is opening soon.”
When he was five times four, he thought he found that door that
opens wide the gates of time.
But then how could he know the older that you grow there
is always one more hill to climb.
And the Lord sat down and said to him, “Another door is
opening soon.”
Now
he’s seven going on eight times ten.
He can look at younger men who seem to know what life is
about. But then how
can they know the older that you grow the more you learn to go
without. And the
Lord came in and said to him, “Jimmy, I am that door that opens
wide from now until eternity.
Yes, I am the Resurrection and the Life and because you
put your faith in Me, you will live forever.”
A Final Parable
Once there was a ship that sailed away and on the shore were all
his loved ones sadly waving goodbye.
It sailed over the ocean of mercy and as it arrived on
the other shore, there were all his relatives and friends, his
mom and dad, his aunts and uncles and family friends waiting to
greet him. Yes he
traveled from one homeland to another, that is the journey we
will all take if we stay close to Christ who says to each one of
us, “I am the Resurrection and the Life and anyone who puts
there faith in Me and follows in My footsteps you too shall live
forever.” My
father’s favorite poem was, “Wherever you go, I shall go;
wherever you live so shall I live.
Your people will be my people and your God will be my God
too.
Jimmy would like to say something to all of us who have become a
part of the fabric of his life.
The color and texture which you have brought into our
lives has become the song that we can sing forever.
For there is an energy locked deep within us, God’s
Spirit, that makes things happen when the paths of others cross
ours. We have to be
there to let it happen.
When the time of our particular sunset comes, our thing,
our accomplishment won’t really matter a great deal, but the
clarity and warmth with which we have loved others will speak
with vitality of the great gift we have been to each other for
we shall be forever together and our life will be the gift of
our lives.
I AM THE RESURRECTION AND
THE LIFE AND ANYONE WHO PUTS THEIR FAITH IN ME SHALL LIVE
FOREVER

Dear Jimmy, Mellon, Billy & Christopher;
We are extremely saddened for our loss. Your Dad was always very
important to my family. I fondly remember those two years that I
lived in Vermont and your house was my home.

From being the ring bearer at his wedding to the visit a couple
of weeks ago when he was able to go to lunch and then breakfast
the next morning that completed the full cycle. Every phone call
he made to me the last two years during my illness were very
emotional for me and is something I will always remember. It had
been a very long two years and with our families’ prayers
everything seems to be getting better. I am sure if is very hard
because when he initially got sick things went downhill very
quickly.
The presence he had when he was with us will always be part of
us. His personality and enjoyment of life to the fullest made
every event special.
We will see you tomorrow and if we can do anything please ask.
We will always remember that smile and zest for life.
Love Stephen, Anita, Shannon and Maggie
Stephen Skelly,
Wethersfield, Connecticut
~
June 09, 2010
Dear Janet and family:
As you already know, James was a wonderful person and a joy to
be around. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
in this time of sorrow. It is my hope and prayer that you will
find comfort in the kind memories he left to you and to
everyone.
~
Nadyne Justin,
St. Joseph, Missouri
June 09, 2010
Dear Janet,
I was saddened to hear about the loss of Dr. McCarthy. You both
were such an influence in my life during my time at Missouri
Western. I worked for several years in Dr. McCarthy's office as
a student assistant. I've never learned so much while having so
much fun. Dr. McCarthy was also part of my wedding in 1998 when
I married my husband. He read I Corinthians 13 during the
ceremony. Dr. Mc was and will continue to be an uplifting
presence in my life. He will be greatly missed.
Love,
Tara Hovenga-Stuart, Todd Stuart and Campbell Stuart (6 months
old)
~
Tara Stuart,
Platte City, Missouri
~
June 09, 2010
I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to all of the family
of James J..McCarthy on the loss of a dear husband, father,
grandfather, brothers and sisters. Please know that you are in
my thoughts and prayers as you celebrate his spirit.
~
Dodie Arsenault,
East Hartford, Connecticut
June 09, 2010
Dear Janet, Jim, Mary Ellen, Bill and Christopher,
We are so sad about the loss of Uncle Jimmy. I am so grateful
that our visit a few weeks ago was so nice. My mom is
heartbroken at the loss of her beloved little brother. They had
such a special relationship and he will sincerely be missed as a
brother and an uncle.
Sincerely,
Sue (Skelly), Ian, Erin and Sara Kaswan
Sue Kaswan,
~
Dear Janet, Jim, Bill, Mary Ellen and Christopher,
We're so sorry for and saddened by the loss of my dear Uncle
Jimmy (and my Godfather). Please know you are all in our
thoughts and prayers, and that we celebrate his spirit, can
still hear his laugh, and are with you as you mourn and
remember.
Love,
Mike, Kathleen, Fiona, Michael, Sean and Mary Dunn
Michael Dunn