Jim McCarthy

April 19, 1940 - January 8, 2023

Jim McCarthy passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday January 8th at the age of 82. Born in Vallejo on April 19, 1940, the first child of Charlie and Peg McCarthy while Charlie was serving in the Navy at Mare Island Naval base. Jim grew up in the Shoreview neighborhood of San Mateo, attended Saint Matthew Grammer School and Serra High School where he played trumpet in the high school band and sang in the choir. After High School, Jim enlisted in the Marine Corp and continued his musical pursuits as the Corp bugler while stationed in Okinawa.

After his discharge from the military, Jim worked as an automobile mechanic at the Washington Street Garage in San Francisco where he honed his mechanical skills on a wide variety of cars. Jim parlayed this experience into a position as lead mechanic at the Crystal Springs Union 76 station in San Mateo.

Jim bought his first gas station at the age of 29, a Union 76 on Hegenberger Road in Oakland. This was followed by the acquisition of several more gas stations, where at one time Jim owned and managed a portfolio of eight Union 76 stations. Throughout his career Jim was often the top producing Union 76 dealer in the country.

Jim combined his career with his love for cars and collected a wide range of muscle cars. In addition, he had an exciting race car driving career, driving a ‘65 AC Cobra in SCCA races at Laguna Seca and Sears

Point. Jim was a certified SCCA driving instructor and would host race driving seminars at Sears Point Raceway for the Cobra Club of America.

Career and cars aside, Jim’s true love was his family. Preceded in death by his beautiful wife Sherron, he is survived by his children Chris Amaral of Modesto, Erin Havens (Jimmy) of Mill Creek, WA, Wendy Hauskens of Garibaldi, Oregon and Sean McCarthy (Kimberly) of Knights Ferry. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Kyle, Dane, Kendall, Reed, Jonathan, Jason, River, Tristan and Savanna. He will be greatly missed by his siblings Charles McCarthy of Pacifica, Anne Savage of South San Francisco, and Kevin McCarthy of San Francisco, and his many nieces and nephews.

Many thanks to the wonderful community of Knights Ferry, California for all the love and support they have shown Jim over the years.

A graveside service will be held at Knights Ferry cemetery on January 28 at 12 noon followed by a reception at the Knights Ferry Community Clubhouse.