KINGSTON, Pa. (Jan. 29, 2015) — John D. “Jack” McCarthy, 79, CEO of McCarthy Tire & Service, died Jan. 27 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after a short illness.
Mr. McCarthy began working in the family business, McCarthy Tire Service, at the age of 12, and rose from oil-bottle cleaner to gas pumper to salesman and eventually president.
In his later years, he assumed the title of CEO as he turned the business over to his children, including John D. McCarthy Jr., who is now the dealership's president. During the elder Mr. McCarthy's tenure, the dealership grew to become the sixth largest commercial tire dealer in North America, with 44 locations in seven states and nearly 1,000 employees.
Besides his commitment to the business, Mr. McCarthy also had a strong commitment to his community, including being chairman of the board of Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for 26 years. He also was chairman of the board of the Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority for 12 years and served on numerous boards, including Pennsylvania American Water, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Penn Bank, Continental Bank, Little Flower Manor and the Diocesan Finance Council.
Among his accolades, Mr. McCarthy was named Citizen of the Year by the Wilkes-Barre Lions Club, Man of the Year by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, and Small Businessman of the Year by the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce. He also was the recipient of the Crystal Rose Award from Little Flower Manor. Numerous other organizations also have honored him for his contributions to the community.
Mr. McCarthy was born June 19, 1935, in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and attended St. Mary's High School and King's College, both in his hometown, where he met his wife, the former Cecilia “CeCe” Corgan, whose family owned the local Ford dealership. They wed in 1959 and would have celebrated their 56th anniversary in May.
Mr. McCarthy was a lifelong parishioner of the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception.
According to an obituary released by the family, Mr. McCarthy enjoyed spending time with family at his two favorite vacation spots: Disney World and the Jersey Shore, and also enjoyed the summers he spent at Harveys Lake, where he would frequently be seen manning his pontoon boat filled with friends on summer evenings.
Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m. on Jan. 30 in the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Wilkes-Barre. Funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 31.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial donations may be made to the Catholic School Endowment Fund for the Diocese of Scranton, 300 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, Pa. 18503, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
In addition to his wife, Mr. McCarthy is survived by daughters Mary Ellen Horn and her husband Neil; and Kathleen Lambert and her husband Gary; son John and his wife Lynn; and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and a brother.