The McCarthy Family of Keene

Don McCarthy

Donald Vincent, 1919 -1996, aged 76

Donald was an outstanding softball pitcher. He too was helped in his career by his athletic prowess. I will always remember a night in Peterborough about 1950 when I went to see Bill Durnan, the goalie of the Montreal Canadiens, pitch in an exhibition game before a large crowd, against Donald who was playing for a Peterborough softball team.

He enlisted in World War II in the Air Force, serving in security at Goose Bay, Labrador. He met Veronica “Bonnie” Brownrigg at a skating rink in Hull in 1944 and they were married in Ottawa two years later.

He first worked at the Eddy Match Company, moving to Bradings Brewery when they offered him more money. He later joined the O’Keefe Brewery and became a leader in the union. He worked there for 25 years until the plant moved its operation to Toronto. Not willing to relocate, he started working for the Federal Government and remained there for 12 years until his retirement.

The McCarthys (summer 2008)

He loved holidays at the McCarthy farm. He and Bonnie had four children:

• Daniel Vincent, 1947
• Mary Catherine, 1950
• John “Jack” Thomas, 1952
• Margaret Elizabeth,

When he retired he was very active in the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Donald died at age 76 of cancer, a few months short of his 50th wedding anniversary. He suffered from Alzheimer’s as well. In his eulogy to his father, his son Jack spoke of his Dad’s social conscience, his love for the Canadiens hockey team, for the farm, and his family. He is buried in a cemetery on Highway 16 near Ottawa.