Richard D. McCarthy

Richard McCarthy – Lawrence, MA

Richard McCarthy, 92, of Lawrence died peacefully at home on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 surrounded by family after a long illness. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joan (née McDonnell), son Carl and his wife Hania of New York, NY and daughters Christa of Reading, MA and Elizabeth of Haverhill, MA, as well as four grandchildren and a brother, Clifford Jr. of Gloucester, MA. He is predeceased by brother Robert of York, ME and sister Joyce Powers of Littleton, MA. He is the son of the late Clifford and Gladys (née Johnson) McCarthy.

Richard devoted his life to serving others. He was an active member and sometimes leader of numerous Merrimack Valley organizations, focusing partially on issues of social and environmental justice. Until his retirement in 1997 he worked as a rehabilitation counselor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Richard Donald McCarthy was born July 28, 1930 in Andover, MA. He was baptized at South Congregational Church in Lawrence and was educated at Lawrence High School. He served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War, then enrolled at University of Chicago, eventually earning a bachelors and masters degree at Northeastern University.

He became a Roman Catholic as an adult and for many years was active in St. Michael’s parish, North Andover and then St. Augustine’s in Lawrence. Later in his life he considered himself a Buddhist and belonged to local Buddhist and Quaker groups. He was a lover of music and art. A poem of his about crows was featured at Essex Arts Center and another about having been a mill worker as a young man was featured at the Bread and Roses Festival.

Visiting hours will be 1 to 3 pm on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Dewhirst & Boles funeral home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844. A Celebration of Life service will follow the calling hours at the funeral home at 3 pm. The burial will be private. His ashes will be interred in Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence at a family gravesite containing five generations.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s memory at Community InRoads, Inc. https://www.communityinroads.org/who-we-are.html

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