Obituary of Daniel McCarthy

McCARTHY, Daniel 1926-2013 Dan McCarthy, after a full, creative and fulfilling life, died gently and peacefully on Thursday, January 10th at the Grove Nursing Home in Arnprior, Ontario. His loving wife of fifty eight years and his family of seven children and their families were there to celebrate his passage. Dan was a man of deep faith. His high school life was under the Basilian Fathers at St. Michael's High School in Toronto. He spent a year in the Novitiate of the Paulist Fathers in New Jersey. Then he returned to Toronto, graduated with a Liberal Arts B.A. degree from St. Michael's College, University of Toronto, emphasizing Theology, Music and Drama. He married Mary Sue McGee in 1954. Their seven children are Josie Morrison (Dr. David Morrison), Paula McCarthy, Dr. Susanna McCarthy, Dan McCarthy (Sylvie Boucher), David McCarthy, Dr. Marta McCarthy (Randy Smith), and Matt McCarthy (Erika Berenz). Dan's grandchildren were the joy of his life. They are Sandy Morrison (Jackie Weatherall), Danny Morrison and Mary Morrison, Kate Andrews-McCarthy, Julia McCarthy and Olivia McCarthy. Dan worked at the CBC as a Radio and Television Producer for thirty three years. He did a prize-winning radio series called "How Do You Say Hello?" Working with UNICEF, he visited thirteen countries in Southeast Asia interviewing children about their lives. In television he produced and developed "The Friendly Giant," "Mr. Dress-Up," and later the Canadian version of Sesame Street. As Head of Children's Programming for the CBC for twelve years, he worked passionately to assure quality programming for all children. Later he directed the CBC Sesame Street Project which brought a Canadian sensibility to the viewers. Children could see Canadian landscapes and regional landmarks, hear the French language, and meet their contemporaries representing the whole Canadian mosaic. In retirement, Dan took leading roles in amateur theatre, singing and acting his way into our hearts. He filled our home with music, especially opera, musical comedies and liturgical music. He and Mary Sue moved to Arnprior in 2003 to be near their grandchildren. Because he was a stroke victim, he moved to the Grove Nursing Home in 2010. Our gratitude to the Grove Staff for their tender and compassionate care of Dan is beyond expression. Love and gratitude go to Rev. John Burchat, of St. John Chrysostom Parish, Arnprior. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Pilon Family Funeral Home and Chapel Ltd., 50 John Street North, Arnprior on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. John Chrysostom Church, Arnprior on Saturday morning, January 19th at 11 o'clock. Interment Malloch Road Cemetery. In memory of Dan, donations may be made to UNICEF or The Grove Nursing Home, Arnprior.