Dr. Katherine E. McCarthy

Dr. Katherine E. McCarthy, age 76, of Woodbridge, passed on October 7, 2016 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She is predeceased by her parents Raymond and Inez Shaw McCarthy and her sister Elizabeth McCarthy Armand. She was educated in the Hamden school system. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College, graduating Magna Cum Laude, First Group Scholar, and earned her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Kathy taught at Drexel Institute of Technology and later was a case worker for the state of CT Welfare Dept. She taught for 28 years at Southern CT State University, where in 1971 she introduced and taught one of the first Women's Study classes in the country. She was also appointed Visiting Lecturer in Pastoral Theology in the Divinity School at Yale University. She wrote numerous scholarly publications, presented papers and lectures, and was frequently interviewed for television appearances and radio programs. Kathy wrote and produced two anti-war videos, one residing in the U.S. Memorial Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. and another in Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance in Jerusalem. During retirement, she was an avid reader, opera lover, civil rights, animal rights and women's rights activist, taught English as a second language, was the President of the New Haven Chapter of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and was a good friend to many. Truly, she made a difference, and her passion for life will be missed. A service celebrating Kathy's life will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at 11am in the BEECHER & BENNETT FUNERAL HOME, 2300 Whitney Ave, Hamden. Calling hours will be held in the funeral home from 9am-11am. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Meriden Animal Shelter 311 Murdock Ave. Meriden, CT 06450.