February 3, 2008
Sarasota, FL
"Dr. Jim" , 79, had successfully survived Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and was slowly regaining his strength while battling infections contacted at the hospital when he unexpectedly, but peacefully, passed away on February 3, 2008, at the Carroll Center, The Glenridge, Sarasota, FL. James Martin, also a resident of The Glenridge and a well-known member of CORPUS, was able to administer the Last Rites soon after Jim's death. Two former Sisters of St. Joseph (ME diocese), of Bradenton, FL, were present after having received the news of Jim's passing from his wife, Lorraine (also a former CSJ), who had returned to San Diego, CA, to continue preparing for the move to Sarasota.
Jim had been on sick leave from the San Diego Community College district. Jim and Lorraine were planning a move to Sarasota, but during a Thanksgiving visit, Jim was hospitalized due to anemia following three chemotherapy treatments he had received in San Diego.
His body was donated to the U of FL Anatomical Board, School of Medicine, Gainesville, FL. Memorial celebrations of life were held in Sarasota, FL, and in San Diego, CA.
Dr. Jim was born November 8, 1928, in Syracuse,NY, to the late William and Amelia McCarthy. He graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1946, then studied at St. Joseph's Prep. Seminary, Holy Trinity, AL. He professed his First Vows in 1950, and began philosophy studies in Silver Spring, MD. After studies in theology and philosophy at Holy Trinity Mission Seminary, Winchester, VA, he made his final profession of vows in 1953 and received the order of diaconate in 1955. As "Father Leo," he served as a Missionary of the Most Holy Trinity for 15 years in five Southern states. Following his retirement from active ministry in 1971, he obtained a BA in Fine Arts from Immaculate Heart College, Hollywood, CA. In 1972, in Hollywood, he married Lorraine Gaudreau from Maine, who had been a teaching member of the Sister of St. Joseph for 20 years.
Dr. Jim received his MA in Sociology from San Diego State University and a PhD in Psychology from Saybrook Graduate and Research School, San Francisco, CA. He taught psychology courses, African Art, Human Sexual Behavior, and Marriage and Family Relations as an instructor for the San Diego Community College. Jim published his own texts for three classes. He has been a registered Art Therapist; a California licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor; and a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the African Art Committee of the San Diego Art Museum.
Jim was a member of both Federation of Christian Ministries and CORPUS. He was incardinated by Bishop Thomas Clary into the Free Catholic Church, San Diego. Fr. Jim's ministry included officiating at weddings for couples who feel disenfranchized from the Roman Catholic Church. He also considered as ministries his teaching career and his volunteer work. Volunteer positions have been: San Diego Hospice public speaker and patient visitor; Mended Hearts Accredited Hospital Visitor and co-editor of local Mental Hearts newsletters; AARP instructor of driving classes for seniors; SD Symphony usher; and past SD Society for Sex Education and Therapy historian.
Survivors include his wife of 35 and 1/2 years, Lorraine of San Diego; two sisters, Betty Hyman of Palmyra, NY, and Rita Martin of Cicero, NY; three brothers, Richard, William, and Michael of Syracuse, NY; his Godmother-Aunt, Agnes Ewald of Zephyrhills, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Students and colleagues from 35 years of teaching for San Diego Adult Education and San Diego Community College will remember Dr. Jim for his dedication, enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of his subjects, and good humor. His wife, Lorraine, will forever treasure his gentle nature, his genuine spirituality, his kindness toward all, and the depth of his love for her manifested in so many diverse ways. She cherishes the messages in all the cards he so carefully chose or created for her throughout the 35 years of wedded life. A favorite phrase of Jim's was "The best is yet to be." Now Lorraine looks forward to the "to be"...Eternal Life with the Love of her Earthly Life.
A song Jim composed, sang, and recorded for Lorraine ends with these words: "God must have meant us for each other; else why would e have met the strange way that we did?" He was referring to their six months as pen pals after responding to an ad that Charles Farley (CORPUS member) of Orange County, CA, had placed in the Oct.-Nov. 1971 edition of National Catholic Reporter : "Former priests and nuns wish to share new lifestyle with others." At the time of publication, Jim was in South Carolina and Lorraine in Maine.
Because of Dr.Jim's great love of teaching (He taught until he no longer had the strength--until age 78.), the Dr. James W. McCarthy Scholarship, (California Retired Teachers Assoc., Div. 78, San Diego), will be offered in 2009 to a deserving college student studying toward a California teaching credential. Friends and relatives are contributing to this fund.
Farewell to a unique, intellectual, compassionate, lovable Priest, Teacher, Volunteer, Friend, and Spouse.
Lorraine McCarthy
Left to Right: Jack & Gail Robinson, Jim & Lorraine McCarthy, Peg and James Martin