Obituary of Patrick J. McCarthy
Pittsburgh, PA Patrick J. McCarthy, 69, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pa. after a long illness.
Born on June 11, 1948, Patrick was the son of Daniel and Mary Catherine McCarthy, of Olean. He was a 1966 graduate of Olean High School. In 1973 he married Judith Donahue at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Binghamton, NY.
Patrick received an undergraduate degree in History from St. Bonaventure University in 1970 and later went on to obtain a Master of Business Administration degree from Bonas. He served in the Army Reserves for six years.
Patrick was a devoted educator and administrator, known for pushing his students, through humor and high expectations, to reach their potential. He taught elementary school at St. Joseph’s School in Olean, NY and St. Pius Tenth in Chili, NY.
In 1973 Patrick took over administration of Olean Business Institute, a private college his father had established in 1961. Patrick ran the North Union Street college successfully for 29 years before selling it in 2001. He helped hundreds of students improve their lives and the lives of their families, as they launched careers as paralegals, medical secretaries and entrepreneurs. He loved serving as a mentor and guide, but was most at home in front of the classroom, teaching Economics.
Patrick was a longtime baseball coach and coached players in the Babe Ruth League, International League and Little League, as well as girls’ softball and the Allegany varsity baseball team. He also served a five-year term on the Allegany Central School Board of Education. He was a parishioner at St. Bonaventure and an avid tennis player, who played several times a week and competed in the New York Senior Games.
The McCarthy family has deep roots in the area, dating back to the “Little Ireland” settlement established in Limestone in the mid-1800’s. Patrick and Judi lived on 2nd Street in Allegany for 35 years. Patrick loved the village of Allegany and its deeply good people. He loved Ireland, its music, pubs and rolling hills. He loved the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Indians, no matter how often they broke his heart.
Most of all he loved his family. And they, in turn, think he hung the moon.
Surviving besides his wife are children Ann (Ryan) Werzyn, Ellen (Aaron) Rosenthal and Michael (Cara) McCarthy; grandchildren Jack and Leah Werzyn and Sadie and Hannah Rosenthal; siblings Daniel (Carolyn) McCarthy, Kathleen (Steve) McCarthy Scherr, Marianne McCarthy, Kevin (April) McCarthy, James (Zoe) McCarthy; Jean McCarthy; John (Susanna) McCarthy and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 at St. Bonaventure Parish in Allegany. Burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery with a celebration of life to follow immediately after.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142) or to Catholic Charities U.S.A. (P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD, 21297-1066).
