Obituaries

Daniel Timothy McCarthy

Daniel Timothy McCarthy passed away peacefully at his home in Newport, Ore., Jan. 2, 2014, from metastatic prostate cancer. He was 61. 

He was born to Mona Rose (Fitzpatrick) and Robert Joseph McCarthy on Jan. 11, 1952, in Queens.

Daniel Timothy McCarthy

Dan was raised in Elmhurst, Queens, until he was 8, when his family moved to Southold. He was the eldest son of an Irish Catholic family. He was very close to his siblings and their spouses: Maureen McCarthy of Southold, Sheila McCarthy-Edson (Lew, deceased) of Southold, Joe McCarthy (Theresa) of Southold, Mona McCarthy-Klucinec (Paul) of Vero Beach, Fla., Bob McCarthy (Trish) of Washington Township, N.J., Pat McCarthy (Penelope) of Queensland, Australia, and Tom McCarthy (Susan) of Southold. He loved all his nieces and nephews dearly. His parents predeceased him, Mona in 2012 and Robert in 1997. After his father passed, Dan became the patriarch of the McCarthy clan.

Dan was a devoted husband to his wife, Penelope; loving father to his children, Megan (Lane), Brent (Kayla), Tim (Samantha) and Dylan; and adoring grandfather to his precious grandchildren Kyle, Noah, Isabella, Kanon, Sophia and Nicola. Dan’s primary focus was caring for his family, whom he treated with the same respect and kindness he showed to all. To his wife and children he was a bedrock, ballast in the storm, and the constancy one would hope for in any relationship.

As in all his life and the many roles he maintained, Dan embraced all his responsibilities fully and was exemplary in his performance. Dan was born to be a lawyer, a profession he practiced for over 35 years as a managing partner with a law firm in Pittsburgh, as general counsel with technology companies in Tucson and, finally, in private practice in Newport. With his keen and analytical mind, he was a zealous and compassionate advocate for his clients, and fearless in battle. He was admired by his peers, clients and adversaries for his respectful approach to others.

Dan was a true renaissance man. Just as comfortable in his French-cuffed shirts and fancy tasseled loafers as he was in his “hobo” coat and work boots, he moved seamlessly from negotiating and strategizing million-dollar deals to dangling from a harness to put a new roof on his home on dark, windy, rainy nights — much to the chagrin of his family (except sons Brent and Dylan, who were harnessed on the roof with him and will forever be in the doghouse for that!). Among his many talents, he was also a certified financial planner, a day trader and a restaurateur. Twice, he and Penelope lost their savings as they embarked together on paths “outside the box,” once when Dan was day trading for several years and another when they owned a restaurant in Tucson. He was a very brave man, willing to take risks yet always able to right the boat again after a storm. He could pretty much do and fix anything.

He was an introspective and contemplative person who attended minor seminary for two years in high school. He read widely. He ran daily for many years, completing the “Marathon of the Giants” in the California redwoods in 1992 and almost a decade of Newport Loyalty Day runs. He was a familiar figure running through the streets of Newport, ponytail flying. He climbed Mount St. Helens in Washington State five times — twice during his illness. He was involved locally, volunteering for many years for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), a program that monitors the welfare of children within the foster care system. He was a kind and compassionate person with a sweet and sensitive soul who is very dearly missed by family and friends.

A ceremony of life was held Jan. 5, 2014, at Bateman’s Funeral Home in Newport ,followed by a celebration of life at Dan’s home. Dan’s ashes rest at Eureka Cemetery in Newport and will also rest at the family plot in Southold, where a ceremony and celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The Dan McCarthy family gratefully acknowledges the generosity and kindness shown to them by friends and family during Dan’s illness. The family asks that memorials to Dan be made with contributions to CASA, c/o Suffolk County Family Court, 400 Carleton Ave., Suite 470, Central Islip, NY 11722.

This is a paid notice.