Rosary will begin at 6:45 pm.
Memorial contributions in Gerald’s name may be given to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741 or online at www.cancer.org or to the Rotary Club, PO Box 3923, West Lafayette, IN 47906.
Gerald D. McCarthy died at 12:25 pm on November 14, 2024, at IU Arnett Hospital, Lafayette. He was 93 years old. A native of Alton, Iowa and the son of Gerald W. and Edna McCarthy of Granville, Iowa, he entered the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1950. Following graduation in 1954, he servedContinue Reading
Gerald D. McCarthy died at 12:25 pm on November 14, 2024, at IU Arnett Hospital, Lafayette. He was 93 years old.
A native of Alton, Iowa and the son of Gerald W. and Edna McCarthy of Granville, Iowa, he entered the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland in 1950. Following graduation in 1954, he served on the destroyer LOWRY for two years before entering the submarine service. He subsequently served in four submarines and culminated his sea-assignments as commanding officer of the submarine TUSK. Shore duty assignments included tours at the U.S. Naval Academy as well as positions on the staffs of the Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, the National War College in Washington, D.C., and holds a Master of Science degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Prior to his retirement in 1978, in the grade of Captain, he was Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer, Naval ROTC Unit, at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. He returned to Purdue in 1980 as a faculty member in the Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision, College of Technology. In 1989 he was appointed head of the department and served in that position until his retirement in 1994 as Professor Emeritus.
In his retirement he was active in many volunteer and community activities. These included service at the Purdue University Visitors Information Center, mentor and board member of the Volunteers In Probation (VIP) Program, and a board member of the Salvation Army and the Tippecanoe Historical Association. He was also a member of Rotary, the Military Officers Association of America, St. Ann Church and Shrine, and served as the U.S. Naval Academy Information Officer for the Lafayette area for twenty years.
He was married to the former Mary Ann Manley of Garfield Heights, Ohio until her death on May 2, 2016. They had three sons-Craig (wife Kathy and daughter Kristen) of Alexandria, Virginia; Bradley of Costa Mesa, California and children Jennifer (husband Paul Lascik, and son Weston) of Mead, Washington, and Brandon (son Brody and daughter Claire) of San Antonio, Texas; and Mark (wife Staci and children Jack and Ali) of Meredith, New Hampshire.
On April 17, 2017, he married Cecilia Miller Freeman of West Lafayette, Indiana. She has a son, Stephen A. Freeman (partner Anna Tragesser) of Tipton County, Indiana.
Jerry was an avid sports fan, particularly for Navy and Purdue. He enjoyed sailing and was the scheduler and coordinator of the “Old Geezers” tennis group of fifty members from 1978-2011.
By all the events of his life, Jerry considered himself to be a blessed and fortunate person, who received a plaque from his peers showing their highest respect to “a good and decent man”.
Memorial contributions in Gerald’s name may be given to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741 or online at www.cancer.org or to the Rotary Club, PO Box 3923, West Lafayette, IN 47906.
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until Rosary at 6:45 pm, Thursday, December 12, 2024, at Soller-Baker, Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd., Lafayette, IN 47909.
Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, Friday, December 13, 2024, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and Shrine, 612 Wabash Avenue, Lafayette, IN 47905, with Father Matthew Jakupco officiating.
Inurnment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 2122 Old Romney Road, Lafayette, IN 47909.
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