Frederick Anthony “Tony” McCarthy passed away on September 12, 2024, at the age of 81, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he and his wife, Bobbi, had recently relocated from their “Blarney Cottage” home on Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County, Maryland. Tony was raised in 6 Court Ridge in Greenbelt, Maryland, and except for his college and Army years, he and Bobbi continued to reside and raise their two children within 2 miles of his childhood home until he retired.

He was a man known for his kindness and patience, his relentless sense of humor, his quick intelligence and insight, and his enjoyment of life. He was quick with puns and jokes (good and bad); a talent he passed on to his son, who could keep him laughing like no one else. He shared his love of books, particularly science fiction, with everyone he could and often passed along his favorite books to his children, grandchildren, friends and extended family.

Tony’s professional life was centered in public service. After graduating from Duke University in 1965, he returned to Maryland and taught at High Point High School (his alma mater, class of 1961). He was drafted in 1967, and served three years in the Army, including a tour in Vietnam and a year stationed in Germany. After the Army he returned to Greenbelt and used his GI Bill benefits to attend the University of Maryland Law School. He practiced criminal law in Prince George’s County, Maryland as a state’s attorney, then a public defender, and then again as a state’s attorney, until he reluctantly retired in 2011. He enjoyed the challenges of the courtroom and always did his best for his clients and the county. During his many years in Greenbelt and Prince George’s County, he also served on a variety of local boards and civic organizations, including the Board of Trustees for Prince George’s Community College, and the Young Men’s Democratic Club, among others.

In retirement, Tony and Bobbi moved to Garrett County, Maryland. There they continued to enjoy the companionship of long-time friends from Greenbelt, who also retired there, and cherish the new friends and community he found in the area. He enjoyed playing golf and bridge. He joined Emmanuel Lutheran Church, did water aerobics at the CARC, and worked out at GoPT and Cardiac Rehab – places he became infamous for making others laugh. He and Bobbi enjoyed traveling across the country and the world. He particularly enjoyed taking river cruises in America and Europe. When they were not traveling, they loved hosting family and friends at their home nestled among the trees on the lake shore.

He was pre-deceased by his father, Frederick Anthony McCarthy, Sr., his mother, Imogene Jones McCarthy Byerly, and his stepfather, Theodore C. Byerly.

He is survived by his wife Roberta Bole “Bobbi” McCarthy, son Theodore McCarthy of Alexandria, Virginia, daughter Jean Spear, son-in-law Eric, three granddaughters Acadia, Colleen, and Rebecca Spear of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and his brother John McCarthy, of Sorrento, Florida. They all love him dearly. His memory is treasured by an expansive web of cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends, both life-long and recently made.

The family will hold a memorial service in Portsmouth, NH on Wednesday, September 18 at 11 a.m. at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service will be held in Greenbelt, Maryland on Monday September 30th at 11 a.m. at Greenbelt Community Church, with a social hour to follow in the church hall. The family welcomes all who knew and loved Tony to join them. Anyone wishing to share their favorite memories or photos of Tony can e-mail them to the family using Tony’s email address: famccarthy@yahoo.com.