Michael J. McCarthy, 83, of 18 Factory St., Friendship, passed away Wednesday (July 12, 2023) at Highland Healthcare in Wellsville, after a lengthy illness.
Born April 11, 1940, in Cuba, he was a son of Edward and Lita Goff McCarthy. On Aug. 26, 1961, in Friendship, he married the former Patricia J. Cummins, who predeceased him Feb. 26, 2009.
He was a graduate of Friendship Central School, Class of 1958. While in high school he helped win the Section V Class D baseball championship with his teammates. He was an avid sportsman, lettering all four years in baseball, soccer and basketball, and three years in track, which earned him the Allegany County All Star status. Mike was inducted in 2010 into the Allegany County Sports Hall of Fame for all of his high school sporting accomplishments.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1962 until 1965 at Fort Benning, Ga. After his military service he attended Fredonia State, where again he excelled in sports.
Mike worked two full-time jobs for his entire career. He was a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Friendship and worked nights as an inspector for Dresser Rand in Wellsville until his retirement.
He was a lifetime member and past commander of the Friendship American Legion Post 1168, a 50-plus year member of the Friendship Fire Department, served on the Friendship Town Board and for several years was the town supervisor.
He enjoyed gardening and wintering in Florida.
He is survived by a son, Shawn McCarthy of Rochester; a daughter, Kelley Anderson of Friendship; grandchildren, Corbin and McKayla Lounsbury, Mercedes Anderson and Sinéad and Nolan McCarthy; a great-grandson, Peter McCarthy; a brother, William McCarthy of Cuba; two sisters, Linda (Ralph) Mastracci of North Tonawanda and Anne Moore of Florida; several nieces and nephews; and close friend, Lynn Clark.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by two brothers, Daniel and James McCarthy; and two sisters, Patricia Bernard and Katherine McCracken.
Friends will be received from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on Tuesday (July 18, 2023) at the Mark F Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service, Inc., 9 Bull St., Cuba. Military honors accorded by members of the Friendship American Legion Post 1168 will begin at 1 p.m. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery, Friendship.
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