John Gaeth McCarthy Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

TRAVERSE CITY - John Gaeth McCarthy, 66, died unexpectedly at home on Nov. 15, 2017. He was born in Traverse City on Nov. 15, 1951, to Marie (Gaeth) and Jerry McCarthy, who preceded him in death. On Nov. 22, 1986, in Traverse City, he married the former Suzanne Beers, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Spencer of Traverse City and Tyler of San Francisco CA; one sister, Ann (Steve) Glickman, of Washington, DC; two nieces, a grandnephew, and several cousins. A 1969 graduate of Traverse City Central High School, he earned his bachelor’s and MBA degrees from the University of Michigan. He moved to Cleveland, where he worked for University Hospitals and completed his law degree at Cleveland Marshall College of Law of Cleveland State University. Later he returned to Traverse City where he operated his family’s businesses, Grand Traverse Title Company and Leelanau Title Company, until closing them and retiring. John was a 34-year member of the Traverse City Noon Rotary Club and Rotary Charities, including World Community Service and Committee for the Handicapped, and in recent years he was the door greeter for the annual Rotary Show. “He was an advocate for the world’s underserved,” said Sharron Zimmerman, Chair of Rotary Camp Board. He participated in Polio Immunization Day trips to India and Nigeria, and also traveled to Haiti to help distribute water filters with Pure Water for the World, and Guatemala on service trips to Safe Passage-Camino Seguro. He was a supporter of Autism Speaks and other autism research organizations. He had a wide range of interests, including wildlife, land conservation, environmental issues, and science in general. He was a lifelong lover of classical music and more recently developed a love of opera and Dixieland street band music. Visitation will be held for family and friends on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Memorial contributions in John’s name may be directed to The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation Ph. 800-829-8289, Pure Water for the World P.O. Box 55 Rutland, VT. 05702, and Safe Passage – Camino Seguro 49 Farm View Drive Raymond Hall, Suite 302 New Gloucester, ME 04260, or charity of ones choice. Please share your thoughts and memories with John’s family by way of his online guestbook by visiting www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

John Gaeth McCarthy

November 15, 1951 - November 15, 2017