Thomas F. McCarthy

Watertown - Mr. Thomas F. McCarthy, a longtime resident of Watertown, died Tuesday, January 21, 2014 in Aberjona Nursing Center in Winchester. He was 89.

Tom was born in Somerville on November 5, 1924, a son of the late Daniel J. and Rose A. (Galvin) McCarthy. He served with the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. Always a pacifist, he worked in communications on the USS DuPage, a Bayfield-class attack transport ship that moved troops. During the January, 1945 invasion of the Philippines in San Fabien, the ship was hit by a kamikaze plane, sustaining severe damage, 35 deaths, and 136 wounded. Tom received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal 5 Stars Philippine Liberation Medal 2 stars. He was honorably discharged on March 4, 1946.

He founded Midtown Trucking Company in the 1960's and ran a successful business for more than 30 years serving the garment industry in the Greater Boston area. He was also a drug and alcohol counselor in the Gavin House in Boston for several years.

Tom leaves his wife of 67 years, Phyllis Anne (Collins) McCarthy; his children, Sheila M. Hopkins of Truro, Kevin J. McCarthy and his wife, Mary Jean Brown, of Tucker, Georgia, Susan M. Ingraham of Alexandria, Virginia, Marilyn J. Salvas and her husband, James, of Watertown, Shevaun E. Baker and her husband, Tim, of Fitchburg; his grandchildren, Joey, Donna, Jessie, Mark, Brian, Justine, Roseanne, Tommy, Jenny, Ashley, Teddy, Andrew, Jackie, Amanda and Jennifer; 19 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his children, Thomas Francis 'Tommy' McCarthy and Phyllis Anne (Pam) Gorman and his siblings John 'Jack' McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy and Helen Callahan.

Family and friends will honor and remember Tom's' life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, January 26th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Luke's Church, 132 Lexington Street, Belmont, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Watertown.

Memorials donations may be made to New England Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.