John F. McCarthy ’43

“Murph” died at home June 22, 2012, after a long illness.

He prepared for Princeton at the Hun School, where he was on the baseball, basketball, and tennis teams. At Princeton, he played varsity basketball and captained the 1942 undefeated baseball team. During a game against Cornell, he hit a home run over the right-field fence. The only other person known to have done this was Lou Gehrig. Murph majored in politics and graduated with honors. Our class voted that he had the “best sense of humor.”

He served with the 87th Field Artillery as forward observer and was wounded twice. He was awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for bravery in the rescue of six stranded enlisted men.

After the war he received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. From 1970 to 1973 he served as chairman of the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation and practiced law in Princeton for 64 years.

When former New Jersey Gov. Brendan Byrne ’49 spoke at the 250th anniversary of Princeton University, he said, “Princeton is the home of three famous people: Albert Einstein, Woodrow Wilson, and Jack McCarthy.” Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Kathleen; two sons, Jack ’69 and Kevin; and five grandchildren. The class offers its sympathy to them.