Jeremiah J. “Jerry” McCarthy of Needham, Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard formerly of Wellesley died at his home on Nov 29, 2010. He was 73.
Born in Marlborough, MA he graduated from Marlborough High School, and received his AB from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, an MAT from Bridgewater State College, and two National Science Awards. His teaching career stretched from Ward Senior High School in Westerly, RI to St. George’s School in Newport, The Wheeler School in Providence, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, and for 27 years, Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill. He taught Biology and Human Physiology, and chaired the Science Department at Beaver for many years. Jerry was a popular and charismatic teacher for forty three years, and his students would seek him out at School reunions, in correspondence, and in personal visits. Travel enriched each classroom, and Jerry toured extensively in the Middle East, Greece, Ireland and Scotland. On his Sabbatical he travelled and studied in the People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Jerry was active with the Polly Hill Arboretum and the Friends of Sengekontacket on Martha’s Vineyard. For seven years he was a popular docent at Polly Hill, and he served FOS as Board President for three years and still holds that title. He was FOS rep and an original member of the Joint Committee of the Oak Bluffs’-Edgartown Board of Sengekontacket. He was a member of the Farm Neck Golf Club on Martha’s Vineyard, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum and the Needham Historical Society.
Jerry was the beloved husband for 38 years of Jean Chase McCarthy, and brother in law of Phyllis McCarthy and nephews Henry M. McCarthy Jr. and Theodore J. McCarthy all of Needham and brother in law of Robert E. Chase and his wife Gratia S. Chase of Bluffton, SC and nephews Andrew Chase and his wife Alicia of Loveland CO and Robert E. Chase Jr. and his wife Natalie of Parker CO. He was pre deceased by his parents Jeremiah and Katherine Mansfield McCarthy and his brother Henry M. McCarthy.
A funeral service will be held on Sat Dec 4 at 11 AM in Christ Episcopal Church 1132 Highland Ave. NEEDHAM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be in the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham on Fri from 4-7 PM. Interment Needham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to Friends of Sengekontactet PO Box 740, Edgartown, MA 02539 or the Polly Hill Arboretum 809 State Rd. West Tisbury, MA 02575.
For directions or to share a memory of Jerry please visit www.eatonfuneralhomes.com
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