ALBANY – Richard J. McCarthy, 88, of Albany, died Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Evergreen Commons Nursing Home. Mr. McCarthy was born in Boston, MA, and lived in Highland, NY and Kingston, NY before coming to Albany in 1967. He worked for many years as a radio broadcaster for radio stations WKNY and WGHQ in Kingston, and was employed by the New York State Dept. of State for twenty years, in addition to broadcasting at Albany stations WROW, WGY, and WABY. He received numerous awards from the New York State Broadcaster’s Association. He also was a communicant of the former St. Margaret Mary’s Church in Albany for many years.
Mr. McCarthy was predeceased by his wife Marie R. McDonough McCarthy. He is survived by his son Richard J. McCarthy, Jr. of Loudonville; his daughters Anne Marie McCarthy (Steven Gower), and Kathryn Scott (Edward) of Denver, CO; and by his grandchildren Quinn and Claire Gower.
Funeral services will be held in the Hans Funeral Home, 1088 Western Ave., Albany, Saturday morning at 8:30, and from there to the Historic Church of St. Mary on Capitol Hill at 9:30. Relatives and friends are invited, and may call at the funeral home Friday from 4-7 p.m. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands. To leave a message of condolence for the family or obtain directions to the funeral home, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.
Dave deMoulpied
The Capitol District’s premier sportswriter-broadcaster for many years, known professionally as Richard Hill, played a vital role on WROW’s morning on-air lineup.
Rest in peace, Dick, We’ll miss you.
Jane Williams
We didn’t know Dick, but if he is anything like his daughter and our friend, Kathy, he was a wonderful person. We know he will be missed. Kathy, wish we could be there to support you and give you a hug. Just know our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Love,
Jane Williams and Phil McGehee
Centennial, CO
Pete Dougherty
To Richard Jr., whom I remember meeting years ago, and the rest of the family, my deepest sympathies on the loss of your dad.
His retirement from the state came around the time I arrived in the area, and I never met a nicer gentleman than Richard. I loved hearing him talk — he had one of the great radio voices — but most of my recollections will be of how kind he was to a fledgling sports writer in the market.
I wish I had known earlier, as I would have stopped by. I tried to let many of his listeners know through my sportsmedia blog: http://blog.timesunion.com/sportsmedia/hill-longtime-area-radio-sports-broadcaster-dies/5884/.
Again, my condelences.
Pete Dougherty
Times Union
JOE CONDON
Richard Hill was an incredible writer, newscaster on
WTEN-TV and WROW radio an award winning sportscaster.
Obviously by conversations with his family last night
and this morning at Saint Mary’s Church, Richard was a
great Father and friend to many.
Richard you are already missed.
Tom Quinlivan
To the family of Richard McCarthy:
I was sorry to learn of the loss of your wonderful father. He was the glue that kept the Holy Cross Sports Nights going year after year.
You father was a first class gentleman just like the late Rev. Richard J. Downes at Holy Cross.
For many years, back in the 80’s, I met your dad at the newsstand while we waited for the Sunday Boston Globe to be dropped off. If I was sick, he made it a point to deliver a copy to my home. My wife and all three of my children thought the world of him as well. We always listened on the radio to hear him say, it is now “seven 0′ eight. Your family will be kept in our family prayers.
The Quinlivans (Tom, Louise, Kevin, Sean, and Shannon)
John Meaney
I had the pleasure to work with Richard late in his career and will cherish the short but memorable time that we were colleagues. He had a talent for thought provoking prose in writing about his passion for sports. I thank him for giving me a lesson in going the extra mile in creating something to be proud of. My thoughts and prayers to Richard’s family during this time. He is missed.
Tim Wilkin
I remember meeting Richard at so many sporting events, Siena basketeball games and Saratoga Race Course functions being two. Working for the Albany Times Union, I always got to talk to Richard, who had the best voice of any journalist I have ever met. We would laugh over just about anything and he would always compliment me on something I had written. Just a class, class act. I am only finding out now about his passing and I am sorry I missed his calling hours. All I know is that somewhere, someplace, the voice of Richard Hill is telling someone some wonderful sports stories. He will be missed. .
Leo J. Hasbrouck
I just found out about the passing of Richard McCarthy and wish to offer my condolences to his family. I knew uncle Dick many years ago as the younger brother of my mother Helen in Highland N.Y. I heard him many times on the radio and saw him at many family events. That was a long time ago but I remember him well. Again my condolences.
Sincerely,
Leo Hasbrouck