Farewell to Fellow Citizen Scientist Richard McCarthy

On the evening of 5 April 2020, the Central Texas Chapter lost one of their most steadfast and loyal members, Richard G. McCarthy. Richard passed in his home in Killeen, Texas from advanced COPD at the age of 83.  His loving wife of over 34 years, Marilyn Whitworth, was by his side as he began his new journey.

Richard’s love of the outdoors began in his youth in rural upstate New York, in the small village of Pitcairn, where he was born on 9 March 1937.  Richard dedicated his adult life to the service of his country.  A Vietnam veteran, who retired as a Sergeant First Class after 21 years of active duty in the Army, only to continue serving the next 13 years as a Department of Defense Quality Assurance Specialist, Ammunition Surveillance (QASAS).  Richard also found time to earn a degree from East State University now Texas A&M University-Texarkana during this period.

In 2010 he and his wife became part of the founding class of the Central Texas Chapter of Master Naturalists. He developed an interest in water quality issues. He performed water quality tests as a citizen scientist doing Stream Team testing. He also developed a passion for studying freshwater macro invertebrates and made numerous presentations about them to schools, other TX Master Naturalist chapters and even at the TX Master Naturalist State Program.  He and Marilyn put in an enormous number of hours at the Wetlands in Waco.  They helped Wetlands educate thousands of children through the years.  He never tired of hearing the same questions about the same critter.  I’ll always remember the way his eyes lit up and his lungs once again grew strong when he spoke about this topic.  His excitement was infectious.

Richard never sought recognition for the things he did, and many of our members probably do not realize how much he contributed to not only the Chapter, but the community.  He was a generous man.  He gave annually to our fund to help send members to the State Conference.  Richard also contributed $1,000 to the Temple Telegram Newspapers in Classroom project.  Several years ago, he purchased Nature Fest patches for all the members to commemorate their participation in the event.  Richard also purchased the U.S. flag and stanchion which enabled the Chapter to open every meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Whether it was time, knowledge or money, Richard gave freely.

Richard was a mentor, inspiration, and friend.  By sheer willpower, he continued to do volunteer work long after his body had told him to quit.  He never complained about the heat or cold, he just kept driving on.  Whenever you started to feel sorry for yourself, all you had to do is look up see Richard to put life in perspective and get motivated.

Richard’s physical presence may be gone, but we can take comfort in knowing that his spirit remains.  I know that when I set my chainsaw down and wipe the sweat from my brow, I will look up the trail and there he will be.  We miss you brother, but we will all meet again on the high ground once our work here is done.