Matthew McCarthy

Family-Placed Obituary

McCARTHY, Matthew Patrick 69, of Dayton, Ohio and Belleair, Florida, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2006, of a lengthy illness. He was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens and formerly of Merrick, Long Island, NY. Matt was a graduate of Jamaica High School, Queens, and St. John's University, Queens, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Master's Degree in Education. He pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Arizona at Tucson. Matt was a Social Studies teacher for 30 years in New York City, and was Social Studies Department Chairman at East Meadow High School, Long Island, NY. Throughout his distinguished career, he received many New York and national awards for advances in Social Studies education, too numerous to count. In 1983, he won the New York State Regents' Award. His career culminated in 1987 with the prestigious Yavner Award as the Social Studies Holocaust Teacher of the Year in New York. On that day, United States Senator Al Damato described Matt as "The greatest Social Studies Teacher in the country." He received this honor for his work in introducing Holocaust Studies to the New York High School Social Studies curriculum. Matt was a world expert on the lessons of the Holocaust and devoted his life to educating youth to the dangers of discrimination, hatred and racism. As a committee member, his name is inscribed on the Holocaust Monument in Long Beach, NY, that recognizes "Their Brother Keepers, " honoring the righteous Christians, the true heroes of our time. This monument gives specific recognition to Raoul Wallenberg, Oskar Schindler and Father Maximilian Kolbe while it obviously honors many other righteous Christians, as well. In 1992, Matt retired and moved to Dayton to marry Mary Lou (Sharkey) McCarthy-they met on a blind date. They lived happily together, summering in Dayton and wintering in Belleair, FL. While living in Dayton, Matt volunteered as an educator for the Museum of the United States Air Force Holocaust Exhibit. He was former President and Lieutenant Governor of the Kettering Kiwanis, where he was awarded the International Legion of Merit. He was also former President of the President's Club and charter member of the City of Dayton's Committee for Improvement. Matt was a citizen of the world, treasuring his American and Irish passports. He roamed the world dozens of times, always learning and teaching along the way. Through his travels and his Kiwanis volunteer work, he met a dozen Slovak and Czech graduate students who he sponsored and hosted for three summers of work and travel in the United States. His great delight was to visit those young professionals in Prague, Czech Republic, and Bratislava, Republic of Slovakia, who now, thanks in part to their knowledge of English, are their country's future leaders in the fields of engineering, business, law and medicine. Matt is the beloved husband of Mary Lou, the loving father of Stefanie Maura (Michael) Lipsey of Sea Cliff, NY; Michael Eric McCarthy of Manhattan; Amy Susan (Schuyler) Bush of Amherst, MA; and step-children Jeffrey Shea (Michelle) Sharkey, Dayton, OH; and Elizabeth Mary (Miguel) Parilo, Dayton, OH. Seven cherished grandchildren include Joseph Parker and Jessica Rose Lipsey, Sea Cliff, NY; Jade Rebecca and Samantha Rhiannon Bush, Amherst, MA; Bryan Gerard and Jennie Anne Sharkey, Dayton, OH; and Daniel Miguel Parilo, Dayton, OH. Matt has two sisters: Kathleen McCarthy, NY, NY; Virginia Fitzsimmons (deceased), brother-in-law Edward Fitzsimmons, Long Island, NY; and a brother, Michael McCarthy. His nieces and nephew include: Mary Ellen (Peter) Barbari, Scarsdale, NY; Kathy (Richard) Miccio, Holiday, FL; Maureen (Marty) Murphy, Deerfield Beach, FL; Edward (Mary Ann) Fitzsimmons, Allentown, PA, and five great nieces and nephews: Peter, Kathryn and Lauren Barbari, Scarsdale; and Mary and Marty Murphy, Deerfield Beach. His McCarthy and Grady cousins in New York are too numerous to count, and he especially loved to visit his Irish cousins back in County Longford, County Leatrim and County Cork. Special thanks from the family to the Emergency and Oncology staff of Miami Valley Hospital. Donations to honor Matt's lifelong commitment to education can be made to a scholarship fund dedicated to "a C student with potential." Please make all donations in the name of Matthew Patrick McCarthy to the Kiwanis Foundation, c/o 2332 Fairhill Lane, Kettering, OH 45429. Arrangements by TOBIAS FUNERAL HOME – FAR HILLS CHAPEL