Michael W. (“The Commish”) McCarthy of Port Jervis, N.Y., passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at St. Joseph’s Place in Port Jervis, N.Y. He was 85.
Son of William and Dororthy Lane McCarthy, he was born on May 7, 1934, in Port Jervis.
After graduation from the Port Jervis High School, he attended Cortland State College. Michael proudly served our country from 1957 to1959 with the U.S. Army.
He was a faithful member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Port Jervis; a life member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #471; a member and vice president of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society, Port Jervis.
Michael served the City of Port Jervis as a first ward councilman for 22 years and councilman at large. He was a member of the Port Jervis Recreation Board, a board member of the Port Jervis Industrial Development Agency, a member of the Port Jervis Zoning Board of Appeals, and a past active member of the New York Conference of Mayors and elected officials. Mike also served on the advisory board of the Port Jervis Salvation Army and as a volunteer at Bon Secours Community Hospital, Port Jervis.
In his earlier years Mike worked at Skydyne in Port Jervis. He also worked as an international service manager for Sparkomatic in Milford, Pa. He worked for the William F. Carroll Insurance Agency in Port Jervis and held his New York State Insurance Broker's License for 32 years. He worked as a school bus monitor for the Port Jervis School District until his retirement. One of Mike’s favorite places to be was serving as a “P.R.” at his nephew Skyler’s Wantage Hills Tree Farm in Wantage, N.J.
Michael’s athletic endeavors were as complete as his civic and political involvement. He was all Duso during his high school years. Mike served for 12 years as a Hudson Valley High School Football Official, he served as a coach for 19 years for the Giants Team, Port Jervis Pop Warner Football, a director official and past league president of the Pop Warner Football, a coach and director for ten years of the Port Jervis Little League. He also served as a CYO Basketball coach for two years and as a coach for the Montague Little League for two years.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Sarno McCarthy, at home; son, Michael P. McCarthy and his wife, Lori, of Newark, Texas; grandchildren, Zachary and Aidan; sister, Patricia Engelhardt and her husband, Kenneth, of Whitesboro, N.Y.; brothers-in-law, Charles Sarno and his wife, Chris, of Wantage, N.J., and Louis Sarno of Tucson, Arizona; sister-in-law, Regina Castle and her husband, Charles, of Kingston, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Michael was pre-deceased by his daughter Luann M. McCarthy on Sept. 13, 2015; and his brother-in-law Lawrence Sarno.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis. Knights of Columbus will conduct services 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Prayers will be offered 9:15 a.m., Friday, Jan. 31, at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Port Jervis. The Rev. Matthew Newcomb will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Luann McCarthy Tennis Scholarship Fund, c/o Port Jervis School District, 9 Thompson St., Port Jervis, N.Y., 12771.