SAN FRANCISCO – The University of San Francisco mourns the loss of E. Walter McCarthy, who passed away earlier this week.  McCarthy was the oldest surviving men's basketball player, having played for the Dons from 1933-37.
 
McCarthy, a fourth-generation San Franciscan, passed away August 15, 2018 in Greenbrae, Calif., at the age of 102 years old.

He was born to parents Frank A. and Johanna E. McCarthy at home in the 13000 block of 10^th Avenue in San Francisco on January 19, 1916.  He was a descendant of Irish immigrants who made their way to California for the Gold Rush.
 
McCarthy graduated from St. Ignatius High School and attended USF on a basketball scholarship.  In his senior season in 1937, he was one of six players to make it through the injury plagued season that saw USF finish 10-7 with wins over San Jose State, Pacific, and Santa Clara.
 
In his final game playing for USF, he finished with five points in a gritty loss in the semi-finals of the Pacific Athletic Association tournament to YMI.  Off the hardwood, he also served as the President of the Block Club, which was composed of varsity athletes and was one of the more active clubs on campus. 
 
After graduating in the spring of 1937, he was hired as the fourth employee of a small company, Watson & Meehan, which was the world's first Cummins Diesel Engine distributorship.  From 1943-1946 he served in the United States Navy during World War II, primarily at Pearl Harbor. 
 
After the war, McCarthy returned to Watson & Meehan, where he was eventually elected president of the rapidly expanding company – a position he served until his retirement in 1981.
 
In 1941, McCarthy married Margaret "Peggy" Mahoney at St. Peter's Church in San Francisco's Mission District.  The two were married for 50 years until her passing in 1991.  McCarthy was also predeceased by three brothers: Alex, Robert, and Rev. Charles. J. McCarthy, S.J. 
 
He is survived by his five children Charles P., Mary Jo, Clare, Daniel, and Paul.  He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.