Obituary - Steve McCarthy

Thursday, March 22, 2007
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Former Juneau resident Steve McCarthy, died Feb. 27, 2007, at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, surrounded by family. He was 43.

He was born March 29, 1963, in Syracuse, N.Y. An Alaskan since 1964, he graduated from West Valley High School in 1981 and earned his Bachelor of Arts in history at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1986. He continued his education at Western Washington University in the history and archives master's degree program.

After completing his course work, he joined the staff of former Sen. Frank Murkowski as an archivist and speech writer and later became an office manager.

In 1992, a generous family gave him a second gift of life when he received a liver transplant at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. So grateful for this great gift, he became a donor after his death.

He proposed to the love of his life, Karen, in 1993 on the Senate side steps of the U.S. Capitol. They married in 1994.

Sharing an enthusiasm for adventure, they moved to Juneau, where he worked as an archivist at the Alaska State Archives. Among many contributions, he created a searchable database of Alaska probate records from the 1800s to today. The Alaska Historical Society recognized his work as a significant research tool and awarded him the Society's "Pathfinder Award" in 2001.

In 2005, they returned to the Washington, D.C., area to work for Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

He loved spending time with his family. He was a true Alaska outdoors enthusiast and enjoyed hiking, fishing, skiing and camping. He also enjoyed building his vinyl record music collection, reading, politics and sports of all kinds, but particularly the Dallas Cowboys.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Timothy McCarthy.

He is survived by his wife, Karen McCarthy, of Alexandria, Va.; parents, Paul H. and Lucy Anne McCarthy, of Fairbanks; siblings and their spouses, Michael and Diane McCarthy, of Boston, Shannon McCarthy and Charles Fedullo, of Fairbanks, and Brian and Sarah McCarthy, of Los Angeles; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of P. Stephen McCarthy, University of Alaska Foundation, 910 Yukon Drive, Suite 206, Fairbanks, AK 99775. His family encourages everyone who knew him to honor his memory by becoming an organ and tissue donor.