Dennis Joseph McCarthy, Jr.
1930 - 2023
Dennis “Bud” Joseph McCarthy, Jr. died at home, with family near, on Wednesday, July 5th, 2023 from complications of Alzheimer’s. He was 93. Dennis was born in Providence, RI, son of Dennis and Margaret (Woods) McCarthy. He graduated from East Senior High School in Pawtucket, RI, and served in the Navy, stationed in Washington, D.C. during the Korean Conflict. After decades of night school, Dennis earned an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from the Charter Oak University in Connecticut. Despite advice from his mother to the contrary, Dennis fell for a “beautiful French girl,” Irene Letourneau, when they were both the tender age of 16, and married this “love of his life” in 1951. This August they would have celebrated their 72nd anniversary– Dennis still believing he was a very lucky man to have shared his heart and life with Irene. Together they raised three children. Dennis was a proud, life-long Boy Scout, attaining the level of Eagle while in high school. He was a dedicated Scout Master in Westborough, MA and Assistant Master in Newtown, CT. Dennis was immensely proud to see both of his sons attain the rank of Eagle. He always praised the value of the education scouting gave him and credited many of his life’s opportunities to the skills and integrity gained through scouting. In the spirit of a Renaissance Man, Dennis explored many hobbies. As a boy, he began photographing the world around him. This became a true passion. He built and used darkrooms in each of his homes, collected a wide variety of vintage cameras and amassed an enormous collection of pictures of his family, friends and travels. Early in his adult life, Dennis took up scuba diving. He loved to listen to classical music, Paul Winters Consort and Judy Collins albums. To enrich his life, he learned to play the recorder and became an accomplished potter. His skills as a home carpenter and gardener helped to create a beautiful home for his family. He never passed by a “good rock,” often stopping by the side of the road to gather another rock for his landscaping. Dennis frequented tag sales, bringing home many useful or curious finds, including a vast collection of gears, lens, and mechanical parts that he “MacGyvered” into clever tools. He was an avid reader who enjoyed science fiction, historical accounts and technical books that would bring tears of struggle to most readers. Dennis especially enjoyed reading the Sunday New York Times. His one venture into the world of business was as a child, when he and his friends sold high quality mudpies. As he told it, the Table Talk Pie Company bought out his mudpie endeavor to eliminate the competition. True to his Irish roots, Dennis was a great storyteller, with a healthy sense of humor that lasted well into his fifteen-year challenge with Alzheimer’s.
His career encompassed several turns, each of which he enjoyed immensely. He began as a photographer in the Navy, taking his boyhood hobby to a professional level. Dennis later became a surveyor and cartographer, before embarking on an incredible path as an aerial photo interpreter and photogrammetric engineer at Itek Corporation in Lexington, MA and Perkin Elmer in Danbury, CT. His career enabled him to work with the Apollo Space missions, developing photographic technology that was eventually used on the moon missions. Dennis helped to analyze the Orville Nix Film of the grassy knoll that was prominent in the investigations of President John Kennedy’s assassination. He was also part of the team that worked on the Corona Surveillance Satellite Project, the world’s first photoreconnaissance satellite program– now declassified and a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute’ Air and Space Museum. He loved his work and reveled in the professional and personal relationships he had with colleagues across the country. Dennis rounded off his career as an in-house photographer at Danbury Hospital, where he took a variety of pictures, including documentation of in-process surgical procedures– an opportunity which made him marvel at the miracles of medicine. Dennis was a devote congregant of and lay altar server at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Newtown. He and Irene participated in Marriage Encounter for decades, where they became role models to younger couples. Much to the embarrassment of his children, he and Irene would often break into song as Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald, singing “Song of Love” to one another from different parts of the house. As a husband and father, he was loving and affectionate– never missing an opportunity for a hug or kiss, or to say, “I love you.” Dennis was proud to be a family man, and was great in his role. He enjoyed life immensely and considered his to be one blessed with many rewards. Dennis was predeceased by his parents and sisters, Margaret and Patricia. He leaves behind a core of people who will carry his memory forward with love. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Irene. Dennis will also be remembered and sorely missed by his daughter, Dyan and her husband Richard; son Michael and his wife, Nancy; son Kevin and his wife Diane; and treasured granddaughters Ameila and Maggie. Dennis is also survived by sisterin-law, Edna Markey and many nieces and nephews. Of special note, he will be missed by his dear friend, Emil Myskowski, who was Dennis’ friend, colleague and brother in faith and life, even when the miles separated them.
The family is grateful to Hospice for their gentle and invaluable help during Dennis’ last few weeks. They enabled Dennis to have a comfortable and dignified end to his life. The family also thanks his VNA aide, Blandina, who cared for him with such positive energy and care during this last year.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 13 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Rose of Lima Church, Newtown. Interment will follow in St. Rose Cemetery. Friends may call at the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main St, Newtown Wednesday July 12 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Please send any donations in Dennis’ memory to the Connecticut Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association or Ridgefield VNA Hospice.