BRIAN S. McCARTHY

Brian was a long time Alderman in the City of Nashua NH, serving first as the Ward 5 Alderman for 10 years, then as Alderman-at-Large for 15 years.  He served multiple terms as Aldermanic President including up to his passing in November of 2018. He and his wife Gloria moved to Nashua in 1980 while Brian was working at Digital Equipment Corporation on Spit Brook Road.

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Brian was born in Brooklyn, New York on July 26, 1954. During his youth, Brian and his family resided in Pearl River, New York where he attended Pearl River High School. In high school, Brian was a member of the Chess Club, National Honor Society, was a photographer for the class yearbook, and a member of his high school trivia team that took part in a taping of the show, "It's Academic!"

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Brian graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth in 1975 with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics and where he also met his wife, Gloria. Brian worked as a software engineer starting with Digital Equipment Corporation, and was most recently at NetApp in Waltham, MA as senior software engineer up until his passing.

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Brian enjoyed many hobbies including interests in aviation, astronomy, fly fishing, science fiction, local Boston sports, trivia, cooking and HAM radio. He was a HAM radio operator with the call sign “N1ZZD." Brian was also a member of AMSAT, an organization which advocates for the advancement of space science, education, and technology. Along with other members of AMSAT, Brian worked on a satellite design that was included as part of a NASA mission.  

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Brian shared many of his interests with his family. He and his son, John, often attended air shows together, discussed their thoughts on Steven Hawking, and shared a mutual love of space, attending the last Space Shuttle launch in Florida together in July of 2011. Brian frequently attended New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox games with his daughter, Kim, along with attending concerts, comedy shows, and discussing construction and building design and details. Brian enjoyed cooking and was well known for his ribs, jambalaya, and Thanksgiving side dishes, especially potato leak soup. On weekends, he enjoyed preparing meals at home for Gloria. They could also often be found out and about in Nashua. They frequently supported the Nashua High School football and basketball teams and enjoyed various restaurants Downtown. They spent many nights supporting local charities and Brian was known for hitting the dance floor with Gloria at the annual Fireman's Ball. 

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As an Alderman with Nashua, Brian provided leadership and support for several developments across the City, though he is often most acknowledged for his commitment to the construction of Nashua’s two high schools as a member of the Joint Special School Building Committee and Chair of the Construction Committee. Brian had an unwavering commitment to Nashua’s public education. In recognition of his devotion to education in Nashua, and his affinity of the sciences and mathematics, the Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation was established to advocate for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and provide opportunity to students from Nashua’s High Schools seeking to continue their education in a STEM based field.