Dr. William Mason McCarty

Troy - Dr. William Mason McCarty of Troy, NY was deceased on Monday, Dec. 5, 2016. 

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Janice Ernst McCarty, son, Mark McCarty (Mary Kate) of Troy; daughter, Marguerite McCarty (Albert Freihofer) of Baltimore, MD;  grandchildren, Matthew (Megan) McCarty, Katherine Howe McCarty, John Richard Moynagh McCarty, and great-granddaughter, Margaret Victoria McCarty.

Dr. McCarty was born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1924 to William Richard McCarty and Harriet Irene McCarty. He grew up in southern New Jersey and attended Audubon High School, graduating as class valedictorian. He played trombone in the school band and the New Jersey State Youth Orchestra, became an Eagle Scout and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He attended Princeton University, where he joined the United State Navy under the V-12 program. He received his Doctorate of Medicine from Harvard University Medical School. Still in the navy, he interned at the Lankenau Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. He then served as a medical officer at Lakehurst Naval Station, and then at Pensacola Naval Air Station to study to become a naval flight surgeon. His last tour of duty was at Port Lyautey in French Morocco. 

While at Lakehurst, he took a parachute jump and a helium balloon ride, which resulted in his life-long love of hot-air ballooning. He became a balloon pilot in 1976 and received his FAA license in 1977. His logbook shows that he made 461 balloon flights.

Upon his return to the U.S., Dr. McCarty took a graduate course in Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master of Medical Science degree. He continued his training as a resident for two years at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia.

Dr. McCarty and his family moved to Troy, N.Y. in 1956, where he joined Dr. H. Gordon Anderson in the practice of Ophthalmology. He joined the medical staffs of Samaritan, St. Mary’s, and the Leonard Hospital in Troy. He served as Chief of Ophthalmology at Samaritan Hospital and as President of the Medical/Dental staff. He was past President of the New York State Ophthalmological Society, and served on the board of directors of the American Board of Ophthalmology and the Sight Conservation Society of Northeastern New York. Dr. McCarty was devoted to his patients, as they were to him.

In the local community, Dr. McCarty served on the boards of the Troy Lions Club, the Troy Music Hall and the Troy Boys Club. He was a long-time member of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (now First United Presbyterian Church). He served as Deacon, Elder, and Member of the Session. He was a member of the Country Club of Troy, where he spent many happy hours golfing and playing gin rummy with his friends. Bill and Jan spent many happy hours sailing together in the Caribbean, with family and friends.

After retiring in 1993, he and his wife bought a home in Montrose, VA, so he could complete researching his family’s history. In 2005, he finished writing and published “The McCartys of the Northern Neck - 350 years of a Virginia Family”. During that time he was very active in several historical and genealogy societies, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Military Officers Association.

Dr. McCarty wished his epitaph to read: “The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:6-7

The McCarty family wishes to extend their most heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at the Eddy Geriatric Memorial Center for their loving care.

All are welcome to attend the visiting hours at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.  276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from 4-7 PM.  

Kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be made in memory of Dr. McCarty to the Charity of one's choice. 

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