Michael George McCarthy was born in December 1943, and passed away on October 1, 2023. His mother was Miriam Mead McCarthy, a registered nurse, and Ray C. McCarthy, a bartender.
As a youngster, Mike attended Holy Angels, Sacred Heart, and St. Patrick’s schools. From 1953 to 1955, he and his three eldest siblings lived at St. Patrick’s orphanage, while their mother recovered from tuberculosis. He started high school at Christian Brothers, in Sacramento (then at 21st & Broadway), and completed high school at Boy’s Town, Nebraska. Here he was selected to the all-state football and baseball teams batting over .600 his senior year.
Early in life, Mike’s athletic prowess was legendary in Sacramento. Playing in the East Sacramento Little League in 1956, he knocked 11 “out-of-the-park” home runs in an 18 game season. He also ran for 6 touchdowns in the 1957 Parochial League City Championship Football game victory over Holy Spirit School. Mike continued to compete, in adult amateur baseball, as a very skilled hitter into his 30’s. For a short time, he played with the legendary Johnnie ‘Dusty’ Baker!
During his work life, Mike was a plumber and a firefighter (which he felt was his ‘calling’). During this time, Mike had a serious and permanent injury to his lower back. He then became a private investigator.
In 1982, he married the beautiful Marcela Ruelas, with whom he had his third child, Robert McCarthy, in 1987. Rob resides in Lodi with his lovely wife Chloe and their son Raine (Mike’s grandson). His loving children, from his first marriage, Stephanie McCarthy and John B. McCarthy, now reside in Washington State.
Mike is survived by his spouse, Marcela, his three children, grandson, and four siblings: Susan LeDoux, John McCarthy, Mary Ann Ingalls, and Margaret McCarthy. Also included are many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
No services are scheduled at this time. A celebration of Mike’s life will be announced in the future.
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