William Walter McCarthy, better known as “Mr. Walt” to the young chess players in our community, died peacefully at home after several strokes. He was 94 years old.
Walt was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 14, 1919 and grew up in Duluth. He attended Lawrenceville, and after graduating from Princeton with a doctorate in physical chemistry, stayed on to work for the Manhattan Project.
Walt and his wife, Lib Newell, had three girls: Lynn, Christine and Cameron.
After 10 years working for the Wood Conversion Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, in science and business management, the family moved to New Canaan, Connecticut. There he managed the subsidiary company, Sonic Engineering.
Retiring at 55, Walt and Lib moved to Cape Cod. They shared their last residence in Green Valley, Arizona, where Lib died.
Walt’s last 10 years have been spent with his daughter and son-in-law in Grand Marais, Minnesota. He spent his time as a volunteer for the local food shelf, the Library Friends, teaching chess in the schools, as a docent with the Cook County Historical Society and the Johnson Heritage Post.
His forward-thinking, open-minded presence and generous heart will be remembered in this community for years to come.
He is survived by all three daughters, Lynn, Christine and Cameron, five grandchildren: Cynthia, Christine, Elena, Colgan and Jonathon, and his grandson, Levi.
Gifts donated in his memory may be directed to the Grand Marais Food Shelf at (218) 387-2113.
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