During the hour and a half celebration of his life last Friday, Albert Gregory McCarthy III was described by his closest friends and family as the “perfect Christian philanthropist,” a “man of the Gospels,” a “great man,” and perhaps simplest and most important of all, a friend.
After a nine-month illness that culminated in a three-week diagnosis, McCarthy, 75, died Aug. 28 of pancreatic cancer in his Arlington home. Those who knew him best congregated three days later for a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by former Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington. Concelebrating were Father Gerry Creedon, pastor; Jesuit Father William Byron; and Father Robert Barnes, abbot of Berryville Monastery.
Jane McGinnis McCarthy, McCarthy’s wife of 26 years, said she was “extremely touched” by the outpouring of love and support toward both of them throughout the last few weeks.
“He was smiling at everyone until the Sunday before he died,” said Jane in an interview Tuesday. “God gave him time to prepare.”
During his distinguished life, McCarthy worked as a lawyer, a real estate developer and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. But the essence of his 75 years, his friends said, was wrapped up in the Loyola Foundation, Inc., a charitable organization for which McCarthy served as secretary and then executive director since its founding in 1957. Loyola gave nearly 300 grants a year of $100 to $100,000 to a variety of Catholic missions overseas, resulting in donations of more than $40 million to 5,000 charities in the last half-century.
This love of the Church and her missions stemmed from her husband’s Catholic upbringing and education, said Jane.
“He was brought up with Jesuits at the dinner table,” she said. “That gave him his appreciation for service.”
This appreciation led to the creation of the Loyola Foundation by McCarthy; his sister, Denise Hattler; and, most of all, his father, Albert Gregory McCarthy Jr., who had traveled extensively throughout the world witnessing the effects of poverty.
Beyond his monetary donations, however, McCarthy was still the “perfect philanthropist,” said Daniel J. Altobello, a Loyola Foundation board member and longtime friend, during a eulogy following the Mass.
“Not only did he give treasure, he gave time and talent,” Altobello said.
McCarthy served as pro bono counsel to the Arlington Diocese, the District Bar Association’s lawyer for the elderly and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary.
Edward W. Treacy Jr., a longtime friend and so close to McCarthy that Jane referred to him as her husband’s brother, said that McCarthy’s friendship was without condition.
“His hallmark was to live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly and never pretend to be something you’re not,” Treacy said. “He was a man of the Gospels. He believed in them and he lived them.”
Father Byron, a board member for the Loyola Foundation and close personal friend of both McCarthy and Jane, related McCarthy’s lifelong actions to the fulfillment of the Beatitudes in Matthew’s Gospel during his homily.
“There lies a man who had great, straightforward commitments, who was unapologetic for those commitments and who helped a lot of others deepen their own commitments, particularly their faith commitments, because of his great example,” Father Byron said.
Of the $40 million donated by the Loyola Foundation, some went to fund institutional grants, but the vast majority did not, Father Byron said.
“Most of that money went directly to the poor, to the neediest, to help the Church sink its roots and develop its evangelical infrastructure in the poorest parts of the world,” the Jesuit priest said. “I’ve seen so many of the really good causes that have been addressed through the philanthropy of the Loyola Foundation under the guidance and inspiration of Gregory McCarthy.”
Cardinal McCarrick, another longtime Loyola Foundation board member, said that those who got to know McCarthy knew that he was a special man.
“This is a man who will not be forgotten,” the cardinal said, “not just by us, who loved him, but by people who learn how much he loved them.”
McCarthy is survived by his wife, Jane; a son, Albert Gregory McCarthy IV of Fairfax and his wife, Karen; a daughter, Ann McCarthy Farrell of Cork City, Ireland; a sister, Denise Hattler, of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; and a granddaughter, Marianne.   
Memorial contributions can be made to Capital Hospice, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Ste. 500
Falls Church, Va. 22042, or to the Loyola Foundation, 308 C St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20002.

Gretchen R. Crowe can be reached at gcrowe@catholicherald.com.

(c) Copyright 2007 by Arlington Catholic Herald