David Paul Mccarthy

David McCarthy Obituary
David Paul McCarthy, Sr., age 88, of Windham, CT and Port Orange, FL passed away on June 15, 2023. He was a beloved husband, father, Pop Pop, Great Pop Pop, and puppy dad.

Dave was born on November 22, 1934 in Pottstown, PA. He attended Aloysius Grammar School in Pottstown, PA, where he was known for “finding devilish things to do.” He graduated from Central Catholic High School in Reading, PA before attending Eastern Military Academy in Cold Spring Harbor, NY on a football scholarship. He played middle linebacker on the football team at both schools.

Dave then attended Villanova University and Johns Hopkins University. Following this, he worked for six years at the National Institutes of Health in the Department of Infectious Diseases. He went on to lead Biological Sciences Operations at Johns Hopkins, where he worked under world-renowned biochemist Albert L. Lehninger. He was then offered a position at the University of Connecticut, where he was the Director of Biology Central Services and an Assistant Dean for over three decades. In that time, Dave also created the University’s Academic Renovations team. He retired in 1992 but worked another five years part-time at the request of his colleagues.

Dave was also the founder and president of the Killingly/Brooklyn PeeWee Football Association, which consisted of eight football teams and a large cheerleading program. This operation continues to flourish in Eastern Connecticut today.

Dave was a tremendously devoted father to his sons David, Kevin, and Sean. The “three stooges,” who were each born a year apart, inherited his prankster ways and kept him very busy while they were growing up. Dave was also known everywhere for his incredible warmth, friendliness, and honest desire to know more about you as a person. When you went with him to one of his local restaurants, he was sure to greet everyone by name and then tell you their life story. He was always checking in with family, sendings texts with his signature ALL CAPS and emojis. His generosity also knew no bounds, with his special ability to find thoughtful gifts that made everyone smile, right up until his final days. Everyone’s “Pop Pop,” he was even known for bringing gifts for his grandchildren’s friends to make sure they felt included.

Dave is predeceased by his son, Sean McCarthy, and his former wife, Judith Moentmann McCarthy. Dave also very recently lost his sweetheart dog, Missy. He is survived by his loving wife, Madelyn McCarthy; his adoring sons, David McCarthy, Jr. and Kevin McCarthy; his wonderful stepchildren, Kim Smith, Holli Smith, Andrew Smith, Lorri Lafontaine, and Melinda Valley; and his precious dogs, Sadie and Baby. Dave was perhaps proudest of his beloved 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Dave would want to give a special thank-you to all the nieces and nephews who traveled many miles to visit him and Madelyn in CT and FL, especially to Mike McCarthy, his brother Larry, and his sister Susan, and his best friend Ralph Simoneau.

David’s family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, June 26, 2023 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Willimantic. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30pm at St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson St., Willimantic.  In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the North Windham Fire Department at 603 Boston Post Road, North Windham, CT 06256.


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