John Gabriel McCarthy

John Gabriel McCarthy of Brighton passed away peacefully on July 26, 2021 while in hospice care at the VNA Senior Living Home in Somerville, MA. He was 77 and died of complications from prostate cancer. He was the beloved son of the late Daniel J. McCarthy, Sr. and Anna (Barry) McCarthy.

John grew up in the Oak Square section of Brighton. He graduated from St. Columbkille High School with the class of 1962. For most of his working career, he was a salesclerk for companies like Jordan Marsh, See’s Candies and Balducci’s Market. John also worked as a health care aide at Boston City Hospital and for Upjohn Home Health Co.

Born with club feet John endured several years of surgeries before entering elementary school. This experience gave him a sense of humility but also an iron resolve. He was not afraid to attempt new challenges like learning to swim as an adult and pursuing a desire to be on stage.

He loved to travel and see new places. He went to Europe several times, twice on the QE II. In the 1980s, he moved to San Francisco and lived there for more than twenty years. He found employment at See’s Candies as the first male sales associate in the company’s retail stores. As customers came in, John enjoyed delighting them with samples of candies he thought they would like. This special attention was appreciated by the customers and earned John annual recognition from the company for his excellent service.

In the early 2000s, John moved back east to New York. He had always wanted a place of his own and fulfilled his dream by purchasing a co-op in Queens. He worked at Balducci’s near Lincoln Center and, because of his passion for customer service, was soon recognized and highly regarded by regular clients at the store. After a decade of living in NYC, illness caused John to move back to Boston where he received support and care from his siblings.

John was a lover of the arts. He did some performing in community theater in the Boston area and attended scores of shows in New York, San Francisco and Massachusetts. He was a self-taught painter and produced many works. His paintings were shared among family and friends, and some were sold to benefit charitable groups he supported. In the summer of 2010, a display of his talent was shown at the Brighton Allston Heritage Museum Art Exhibit.

Some of the things that John enjoyed most in life were cooking and making bread, dressing up in a jacket and bowtie for special events, reading biographies of his favorite singers, actors and political figures, listening to music of all kinds and spending time with his family. He was proud of his heritage and often used a greeting or expression in Irish which he had learned from studying the language.

John always sought out individuals and communities that reflected his own values as a gay man who believed in social justice, gender equality and acceptance of people of all races and abilities. Over the years, he found kinship in groups like the Paulist Center of Boston, the Unitarian-Universalist Church and most recently in the Allston-Brighton Congregational Church, UCC.

John is survived by his siblings; Mary (Liz Breadon) McCarthy of Brighton, Helen Tuohy of Medford, Dan (Jill Izett) McCarthy of Newton and Henry (Yvelyne Germain) McCarthy of New Orleans, LA. He is also survived by his devoted nephews; Brian McCarthy of Brooklyn, NY, Mark (Miley) McCarthy of Chicopee, MA, Julian (Rachel Centineo) McCarthy of New Orleans, LA, and Germain (Catherine Woodyard) McCarthy of Washington, DC and his sweet grandnephew, Logan Izett McCarthy of Chicopee. John also leaves behind many cousins and friends who loved him for his kindness and gentle manner.

Funeral and burial are private. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name can be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Thank you, John Gabriel, you have been a joy and have enriched our lives!

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