There are many of our Blue White donors who are passing away due to the age of our donor base. I cannot write a story about each one, but I have to feature a man and his wife who have done nothing but “Give Back” or as we like to say “Pay It Forward”. Ed McCarthy, 82, passed away peacefully November 4, 2018. In December his wife dutifully wrote a check out to the Blue White Scholarship Foundation and comforted me. ( I was distressed over my own Mother’s progressive illness) Jane’s love had passed away, but she was still helping others. Here is Ed’s story: He was born in New York City, graduated from Xavier High School in 1954 and Villanova University in 1958. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. He married in 1961.
Ed’s work with Metropolitan Life Insurance took him from New York City via Allentown, PA to the Cleveland Ohio area where the family settled and lived in Chardon for over 30 years. Answering the call to ministry, Ed was ordained a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Cleveland in 1983 and served as Pastoral Minister at St. Mary’s Parish in Chardon. Upon retirement, he served as Deacon at St. Agnes Church in Naples, Florida. He spent his summer months as an associate in the Religion Department at Chautauqua Institution in upstate New York.
He had a significant impact on many lives as he presided over weddings, baptized children and held the hands of many during joyous and sad occasions. He was truly a remarkable man who gave of himself to help others at all times. He and his wife Jane never met a person that they treated like a stranger; theirs was an open, tolerant and loving faith, which Ed lived every day of his life.
Charlie Brown said: “I love the kind of hugs where you can feel the sadness leaving your body” It took only one meeting to be drawn by Ed’s booming voice, gentle spirit and an oversized bear hug. He never failed to be an amazing example of love, faith, fidelity and true happiness.
His wife Jane picked up the ball and immediately began to heal family and friends and those to whom Ed had ministered . She wrote to them the following: “ I thank you for whatever it is that you have done to help ease the pain that we all feel right now. If you have lost a loved one recently, be comforted to know that they are safe in the arms of Jesus. They are always a part of your life. The love they have shared will live on in your heart.”
Charlie Brown also said….”.Perhaps they are not stars but rather openings which our loved ones shine down to let us know they are happy.” Ed surely is a beacon of light. Shine on Deacon!
Ed married his high school sweetheart, Jane (nee Giddings) 57 years ago and had six children…..Kevin (Natalie Dunmire), Kathleen (Michael Hoffmann), Kristine (Jim McNicholas), Kerry (Cindy Mason), Kenneth (Karen Kausek) and Kara (Brian Passow). They also have 21 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Right: Every Summer the family vacationed together at there lake home in Chautauqua, located in upstate New York