Leo Joseph McCarthy, MD, FRCP Edin/Ire

Leo Joseph McCarthy, MD, FRCP Edin/Ire July 27, 1939 – May 12, 2025

Leo Joseph McCarthy, MD, FRCP Edin/Ire, 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 12, 2025. He was lovingly cared for by his devoted wife and constant companions—his beloved dogs—throughout his final illness. Leo succumbed to complications of metastatic skin cancer, supported with great compassion by hospice caregivers whom the family gratefully calls “angels.”

Leo was born on July 27, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska, to the late Marjorie Marie (Cruise) McCarthy and the late Daniel Jacob McCarthy, a film distributor for Disney in the Midwest. At the age of 3½, Leo’s life changed dramatically when his father abandoned him and his mother in a hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With the help of her father, Marjorie returned to Omaha, where Leo was raised and flourished under the care of his maternal grandmother, Stella Hughes Cruise—his cherished "Nanny"—while his mother worked as a secretary to Air Force generals in the underground Strategic Air Command Headquarters, the highest security, four-story underground bunker where the “red telephone” was kept, at Offutt Air Force Base.

A lifelong learner and man of deep Catholic faith, Leo was educated by the Sisters of Mercy at St. Margaret Mary Grade School, where he also served as an altar boy. He graduated from Creighton Preparatory High School in 1957 and attended Creighton University on a small track scholarship. An accomplished athlete, Leo played football, ran track, and learned handball from the Jesuits. A serious injury during the South Dakota Relays ended his track career, but he took this setback as an opportunity to apply to medical school. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Medicine at the University of Nebraska and received his medical degree from their College of Medicine in 1964.

In 1967, Leo proudly answered the call to serve his country, becoming a Navy Battalion Surgeon with the Marines in a MASH unit during the Vietnam War. He continued in the Naval Reserve and was honorably discharged as a Commander in 1978.

Leo completed his pathology residency at Stanford University and spent the entirety of his distinguished career at Indiana University Medical Center, where he served as Professor of Medicine until his retirement in 2003. He was board certified in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology, Hematology, and was the second doctor in Indiana to be certified in the new field of Blood Banking. As Director of Transfusion Medicine at IU Medical Center, he published 324 articles, books, and chapters, was a sought-after speaker and a leader in multiple professional organizations.

Dr. McCarthy’s legacy lives on in the field of Transfusion Medicine through an endowed lectureship with Riley Children’s Foundation and named library rooms at both Indiana University and the University of Nebraska medical schools. His passion for the history of medicine was matched only by his commitment to education.

Among his many honors, Leo received the Sagamore of the Wabash from the Governor of Indiana, the Glenn W. Irwin Jr., MD, Experience Excellence Award from IUPUI, the John Elliott Memorial Award from the American Association of Blood Banks, and was named Distinguished Alumnus by both St. Margaret Mary Catholic School and the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He was especially proud to be a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of both Edinburgh and Ireland.

Leo had a great love of life—people, a good joke, travel, his dogs, fitness, and learning. He was known for his wit and unwavering loyalty to those he loved.

He is survived by his wife and soulmate of 43 years, Susan Prenatt McCarthy, and his cousins Warren Filbert, John Filbert, Gregory Snyder, Michael Cruise, Timothy Cruise, Tom Cruise, and Colleen Cruise. He was preceded in death by his mother Marjorie, his maternal grandparents Hank and Stella (Hughes) Cruise, his aunts Barbara Cruise Snyder and Angela Cruise Filbert, his uncle Jack Cruise, and his cousin Patrick Cruise.

A visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, at St. Luke Catholic Church, 7575 East Holliday Dr, Indianapolis, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Cemetery, 9001 Haverstick Rd, Indianapolis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society of Indianapolis.