EASTHAMPTON - Thomas P. McCarthy, 94, of Easthampton, passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton.
He was born Jan. 19, 1921, in Northampton, the son of the late George M. and Rebecca (Godin) McCarthy. Thomas was educated at the former Immaculate Conception School in Easthampton, and attended both the former St. Michael's High School in Northampton, and then later at the Bucksport Maine High School.
A World War II veteran, Thomas served as a paratrooper and demolitions specialist in the 82nd Airborne in the U.S. Army. Thomas was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery and the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat on June 17, 1944, during the initial stages of the invasion of France.
Thomas was a self-employed plumber his entire life working independently with various contractors throughout the area. He moved to Stowe, Vermont, in 1946 where he continued working in plumbing and started his second career as a member of the ski patrol and later as a ski instructor at Mount Mansfield in Stowe, Vermont. Thomas also had founded the very popular McCarthy Restaurant in Stowe, Vermont.
He returned to the area in 2004 where he has lived ever since. Thomas was a member of the Dalton LaVallee American Legion Post 224, and a member of the Eugene McCarthy VFW post 3422, both in Easthampton. He was a communicant of the former Immaculate Conception Church presently Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Easthampton.
He leaves his three loving children, Kristi McCarthy Robertson of Stowe, Vermont, Patrick "Buck"