William L. McCarthy, 83, of Casselberry, Florida passed away peacefully on February 11, 2015. Born on September 22, 1931 in NYC to Lawrence and Helen, he spent his youth in Flushing, Queens attending St. Andrew Avellino School and graduating from Xavier High School in NYC.
He was an enthusiastic participant in ROTC and the Bugle Corps., ultimately serving in the US Army in the 1950's. His military service sent him overseas, allowing him to travel through France, Germany, Austria, Holland and Denmark.
But music was his passion. He played trumpet and led his own 17-piece orchestra entertaining at clubs and colleges throughout the New York area. Following his military service, Bill graduated from St. Peter's College, married Ann Carraher and moved to New Jersey where together they raised two sons. He spent much of his business career in paper sales at Bulkley Dunton, but Bill still continued to play trumpet at town memorials and local theater productions. He found time to join the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Glee Club in NYC. It was in this organization that he would sing alongside his father, a member of the same glee club since 1931.
After his divorce, Bill moved to Casselberry, Florida in 1984. He was a proud supporter of the Central Florida Jazz Society and a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church.
Bill is survived by his brother Thomas of Donora, PA, his two sons and one grandson in NJ, and his longtime companion Nancy Gibson of Longwood, FL.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests a donation be made to Cornerstone Hospice (
www.cshospice.org
) in honor of their father.