Birth date: Oct 12, 1947 Death date: Dec 10, 2012
DAVID McCARTHY, 65, of Leesburg, Virginia died on Monday, December 10th 2012 in Leesburg. Mr. McCarthy was born October 12th 1947 in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up all over the US being the eldest son of a US Marine Colonel. He Read Obituary
My deepest condolences - if late - to all of David's family members. I met David when I started working as a volunteer at the NISGUA office (National Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala) in 1981.
I am shocked and saddened to learn of his passing so long ago. In the throes of writing a book about my human rights work for Guatemala, I wanted to ask him some questions, but instead found a very sad answer. I am so very sorry I did not contact him in time....
I will never forget David and have often thought about him while writing. He and I crowned our work at NISGUA with helping defeat a Congressional aid package in December of 1981 that would have supported the Guatemalan Army's deadly repression of innocent citizens.
David is another person for whom I shall toast as a true fighter for justice and human rights - the world needs more like him.............
Paul Yamauchi
[email protected]
Forget the camera . . . . A fond memory from Kip
What many of us most valued about David was his honesty; he told it the way he saw it. Tactfully and graciously, yes, and often with a light wry humor, but always truthfully. He asked the tough questions, of himself as much as of others, and didn't accept easy, glib answers.
David set a standard for his colleagues by his respect for, and interest in, his counterparts in developing countries. And he never forgot that our real clients were the disadvantaged and underserved people at the bottom of the ladder. Because he cared so deeply, he made those around him care as well. His talents and his spirit are greatly missed.
Though I never thought about it at the time (perhaps being so obvious as to be easily neglected amidst the noise of every day), I now see that David was almost constitutionally unable to offend others; everyone who came in contact invariably had positive reactions to his smile, good humor, welcoming approach and, even in the many situations where light at the end of the proverbial tunnel seemed distant, his optimistic approach to development work, David could see and applaud the good in all he came in contact with, and he lived the Taoist poem that has long inspired many at MSH;
Go to the people;
Love them; learn from them;
Start with what they have, build on what they know.
But of the best leaders,
When their task is accomplished, the work is done,
The people will all say, " we have done it ourselves"
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Ron O'Connor
Desde el Perú, un moment de silencio y una oración por la memoria de David. Una persona alegre y generosa, siempre dispuesta a regalar una sonrisa a los demás. Descansa en paz querido David.
It has been many years since I worked with David at MSH, but I still remember him to be a warm and generous person and always a pleasure to work with. I was saddened to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
-Jane Andelman
Dear Monica,
I was a colleague of David's when he worked at MSH on the BASICS Project. He always made me laugh and keep a sense of perspective when the work got to be too much. A person of honor and integrity and I am very sorry that he passed so early in his life. My thoughts go out to you and to Pablo; can only say I'm sorry.
Beth Gragg
Tristeza grande pela notícia, saudade enorme ao ver as fotos. David foi um grande amigo meu e de minha família, quando morou em Niterói, Brasil, no ano de 1990. Comemoramos nosso aniversário juntos, pois nascemos no mesmo dia. A partir de agora, comemorarei sozinho.
Sucesso para Mônica e Pablo, grandes amigos que vivem longe, mas nunca sairão do meu coração.
João Paulo (filho de Angela e Eduardo)
David was a man who asked nothing more from someone than he himself was willing to give, which was always everything he had. His dedication to the greater good was impassioned and contagious. David will be missed, but never forgotten.
