Matthew Mccarthy

Matthew J. McCarthy died unexpectedly on November 29 in Alexandria, Virginia, age 76. His death was a great loss to his family and his many close friends who loved and cherished him.

Matt was born in Davenport, Iowa, and received his education in Davenport at Sacred Heart grade school and Assumption High School. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute and went on to a rewarding career as an artist and painter.

Born with an artistic temperament, he was fortunate to be part of a household that strongly encouraged him to develop these talents. At countless family gatherings, he would entertain his parents, six siblings and many relatives with his drawing, painting, and playing a host of musical instruments. In his high school and college years, he and his brother, Jim, formed a band called “Matt and the Maniacs” which became a well-known Davenport cover group.

After college, Matt lived in Palm Beach County where he worked as a professional artist and art instructor. During his time there, he became a founding faculty member of the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach teaching painting and drawing at the Center and later other Palm Beach County venues, including hosting a drawing class which was broadcast on the area’s public television station. He also had his own art school, McCarthy Art Studio. Additionally, Matt worked part-time at the Norton Museum of Art for many years.

In 2022, Matt retired and relocated to Alexandria, Virginia to live with his sister, Mary, and be near other family members. He was predeceased by his parents, Thomas P. McCarthy, Sr., and Mary (Wee) McCabe McCarthy, sister-in-law, Louise Rabe McCarthy, and nephews Thomas McCarthy III, Eldridge, Iowa, and William McCarthy, Alexandria, Virginia.   He is survived by his brothers, Patrick of Los Angeles, California, Thomas (Leslie) of Melbourne Beach, Florida, Michael (Monica) of Chevy Chase, Maryland, sister Mary of Alexandria, Virginia, and brothers James (Michele) of Crystal Lake, Washington, and Mark (Ann) of Norfolk, Virginia, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews,  and by his dear friends, MaryBeth Hovey, Davenport, Iowa, and Diana Helcher, of West Palm Beach, Florida.

Although Matt is gone from us, we will cherish our times together.  All who knew Matt remember him as a kind, humble man with a great sense of humor.  Even as a child, he closely studied his world, seeing beauty and art in everything he observed, and he was compelled to show us what he saw in his art.  This continued until his last day.  In his paintings, he is always with us.