James Mccarthy

James Jerome McCarthy, age 84, died of heart failure on Friday, April 6, 2012 at Oak Park Place West in Middleton.

Jim was born May 20, 1927, in Gary, Indiana to James and Viola McCarthy. The family moved to Milwaukee where he graduated from Lincoln High School. He joined the U. S. Navy and was stationed on Guam during wartime and later served as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve. Jim graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor's Degree, UW Milwaukee with a Master's Degree, and the University of Illinois with a Doctor of Philosophy. In 1953, he married Joan Frances Cerny in Manitowoc. Together they have three children: Peggy Bailey (Mark), Patricia Sirotkin (Peter), and James Joseph McCarthy (Christy), and five grandchildren: Emily Sirotkin, Sarah Sirotkin, Emmett Bailey, Kathryn McCarthy, and Caroline McCarthy.

Jim's professional career started with teaching educable mentally retarded children in Milwaukee. He later was a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Psychology for 30 years. He was the co-author of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities and a book, Learning Disabilities and other research articles. Jim loved the University and enjoyed and respected the professional colleagues he knew in the School of Education.

Jim's main hobby and recreation was taking all the courses offered by the Madison Power Squadron so he could sail his boats enjoyably and safely. He sailed close to home and far away, always with his family, for many adventurous days and beautiful anchorages.

Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father James McCarthy, birth mother, Viola McCarthy, his adopted mother, Faye McCarthy, brothers, William McCarthy and John Merz. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and brothers Douglas, Danny, and Patrick.

The family is especially thankful to Dr. David Watts for being the kind of doctor every patient wants to have, to the staff at Oak Park Place West Walnut Grove Memory Unit, for their good care and the warm, kind, and respectful relationship with Jim, and to the Agrace HospiceCare--Ruby Team for their skilled nursing care at Oak Park.

A memorial service will be held at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton at 2 pm on Friday, April 13, 2012. A light lunch will be served at church following the service.