John Joseph McCarthy

March 20, 1943 - February 7, 2021

John Joseph McCarthy, 77, of Toms River, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Born in Glen Cove, N.Y., John grew up in nearby Oyster Bay, N.Y. until he joined the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17 years old. After nine years in the Marines, he reenlisted – this time in the U.S. Army where he spent an additional 11 years. John was a veteran of two tours in Vietnam and at posts in Korea, Germany, and the U.K., to name a few. In 1977, John and his family moved to Pocono Summit, Pa., where he would retire from active duty and continue to serve his country for an additional 20 years as a civilian employee of the Department of Defense. Those who knew John will remember him as a kind and generous person who would always say that his favorite ‘job’ was retirement. He stayed busier than ever, using his free time to work on projects around the house and traveling to see his grandkids. His ability to step up and lend a hand was known far and wide, and he would never let an opportunity pass to do deep research into seemingly insignificant purchases. John was both curious and conversational, as well as extremely private and fiercely loyal. Between the post-traumatic stress he endured from his military service, to his bouts with cancer and other ailments, he had much to contend with, particularly in his later years. Even so, John always prioritized time with his family, going to great lengths to advocate on their behalf and make the world a brighter place for them. While it’s not possible to wrap your arms around any loved one who passes on, it certainly is possible to wrap your heart around a memory. And because of that, John’s memory will be kept warm for years to come. John is predeceased by his brother Daniel McCarthy, and sisters, Pat McCarthy and Mary Crawford. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Catherine L. McCarthy, and his loving children, Lori Scott, Darrin McCarthy and John McCarthy; his cherished grandchildren Hannah, Alex, Katie, Meghan, Keira, Emma, Lauren and Sean; and his siblings Joanne Merrick, Richard, Thomas and Frank. John will be deeply missed by his daughters-in-law Catherine (Licata) McCarthy and Catherine (Stephens) McCarthy; as well as Alex Scott and Peter Battaglia. Due to COVID restrictions, visitation will only be held on Friday, February 12, from 9 – 10 a.m. at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Road in Toms River. At 10:30 a.m., a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Luke Roman Catholic Church, 1674 Old Freehold Road in Toms River followed by internment at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Wrightstown, N.J. If you would like to contribute to John’s legacy, please make a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Disabled American Veterans. Please also be sure to share your condolences and words of remembrance at www.silvertonmemorial.com.