Obituary of John F. McCarthy

Mr. John Francis McCarthy Sr, 87 of Adamstown, MD passed away on Friday July 21, 2023, at Buckingham’s Choice Continuing Care Retirement Community.

Born June 25, 1936, in Little Falls, NY, he was the son of the late Joseph Earle and Katherine (Maxwell) McCarthy. John developed a passion for pharmaceutical science while working in his family drug store in Little Falls, NY during high school and college. John graduated from St. Mary’s Academy (high school) in 1954, and then received, his Bachelor of Science Degree from Albany College of Pharmacy. He next earned his PhD in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship in cancer research at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. He spent his career in the Agricultural Chemical Industry, culminating in joining the National Agricultural Chemical Association, now known as Crop Life America, in Washington DC, until retirement in 1999. He traveled throughout the world and testified numerous times before the United States Congress to educate on the importance of safe and sustainable crop production. Upon retirement, he renewed his pharmaceutical license and oversaw procuring drugs and medical supplies for medical missions in Haiti in service through his church.

John was also highly active in a variety of volunteer activities in every community he lived in, serving on parish councils, homeowner association boards, and the Knights of Columbus. Most recently he served as the Vice President of the Buckingham Resident Association and the Editor in Chief of the BC Bulletin. He loved sharing his talents, providing kind advice and encouragement with whomever he met. Most of all, he was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Ann Marie. His proudest accomplishment was his family and he was a model for them, teaching them how to have courage of conviction, a strong work ethic, and love of family and tradition. He took great pride in his children and grandchildren, serving as the family photographer and capturing many of their life moments on film, from their biggest milestones to their ordinary everyday endeavors. 

John was a member of St. Joseph’s on Carrollton Manor Catholic Church of Frederick, MD. 

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his loving wife Ann Marie (Shepardson); brothers, Walter and Joseph, and sister Jane. He is survived by his children, Joan Mazzio (Victor) of West Chester, PA, John “Jack” McCarthy Jr. (Sue) of Gaithersburg, MD, James McCarthy (Maria) of West Chester, PA, and Julie Milbach (Alan) of Northeast, MD; grandchildren, Courtney Nassar (Alex), Jonathan Mazzio (Emma), Sean Mazzio, Brigid, Teagan, and Liam McCarthy, Meghan Gartner Stone (Wesley), Seth and Alyssa Milbach; great-grandchildren Connor Matthew and Emily Ann Stone, Clara Joan and Jane Eloise Nassar, and Riley Francis Mazzio; sister in law Debbie Shepardson; and several nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM, on Saturday July 29 at St Joseph’s on Carrollton Manor, 5843 Manor Woods Road, Frederick, MD 21703. The family will receive friends an hour prior to Mass. Fr. John Williamson will officiate. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Little Falls, NY on Monday, July 31 st at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Memory of John F. McCarthy, Sr to: John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in support of Dr. Jean Hoffman-Censits,750 East Pratt Street, Suite 1700, Baltimore MD 21202, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center; Alzheimer’s Association, 108 Byte Drive #103, Frederick, MD 21702, www.alz.org,; Eternal World Television Network, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210, www.ewtn.com.