The Michael John McCarthy Memorial Garden
Beloved Plantsman and Friend
In thanksgiving for his care and dedication to all God’s growing gifts.
Welcome to the Michael John McCarthy Memorial Garden in the All Saints’ Arboretum. Here is a brief introduction to Michael and his life written by one who loved him dearly.
Michael was born on September 27, 1939 in Birkenhead, UK to Irish immigrant parents, Gerard and Eileen McCarthy. The ravages of World War II in England provided the backdrop for his early years of schooling, frequent moves, illnesses and adventures. Upon completing school he became a seaman like his Dad, later attending The Liverpool Nautical College, often by mail, to become a certified navigator in the British Merchant Marines, traveling extensively throughout the Far East and Australia.
Following his marriage in 1964 and the arrival of three children, he retired from seagoing to spend more time with his family. He took a position in the multinational company, Unilever, where he dealt with large-scale civil engineering markets and manufacturing in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Brazil, the latter with his family. Still traveling frequently, another career change beckoned. He and his wife opened two successful restaurants in North Wales. After he and his wife separated, he spent two years roaming the British Isles in a 32’ yacht before opening a third restaurant, Wrinkles, in Llandudno, Wales.
There, in 1990, he met and soon married Jeanne McCarthy from Concord, NC, selling his latest restaurant and boat and leaving his children, now adults, and his beloved sister and moving to Salisbury, NC. Finding no other job to tackle he began to work as a garden designer, painter, general fixer of about anything while figuring out America’s and North Carolina’s quirks. He began attending the Episcopal church through which he became heavily involved in mission work in Haiti and Panama sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. He made many trips with a dedicated team of others mostly from All Saints Episcopal Church in Concord, NC. Michael spent 9 years on the Executive Board of the Haiti Fund based in New Bern, NC. Its successful Haiti CODEP reforestation program included the building of homes, schools, ponds and water systems, one of his life’s highlights.
In 2000 he “retired” from building/repair work and major gardening projects and began to grow Japanese maples. He collected seeds from many varieties, grew them and then grafted them to strong root stock, continuing to nurture them to maturity. He sold them to the Charlotte Farmers Market for resell. His Nursery at Tanglewood, our backyard and several acres in Gold Hill, housed several thousand trees in various stages of growth. Many were given as gifts, including offering anyone attending his funeral to take a tree home. After several years, those remaining where offered to the J. C. Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh from whom he had gathered many cuttings. The Director and several staff arrived with a truck and took more than 900 trees, most of which they offered in a pop up sale as a fundraiser. They sold out in several hours. How far his ripples have traveled!
Michael gave himself totally to any task he was asked or chose to do. Often working alone, he frequently and quietly took care of others and projects as the need arose. A loving and dedicated man, he was famous for giving grumpy or sarcastic remarks, hiding his caring soul. His family, friends and All Saints’ and so many others have been blessed by his crossing the pond to become one of us, sworn in as a US citizen on June 8, 2002.
Special and heartfelt thanks go to: Mark Robinson, MD, who spearheaded the formation of the Michael McCarthy Memorial Garden in the All Saints’ Arboretum, Petra McLean who designed it and especially the members of the Garden Team, Men’s Study Group, the Youth Group, volunteers, friends, Bill Godley and his Nursery, and all those who contributed endless hours on their knees, providing plants, maintenance and a place of beauty and peace to the church and the community in memory of a very special man.