Edward D. McCarthy

Edward D. McCarthy, of Waltham, died Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. He was 91.

Ed was born in Arlington on January 29, 1934, the son of the late Edward Dennis and Mary (Quigley) McCarthy. Raised in Arlington, he graduated in 1951 from Matignon High School in Cambridge.

He earned a Bachelor of Science (1956) and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (1967) from Northeastern University; he remained deeply proud of these educational achievements throughout his life.

After graduation, he joined the Army Corps of Engineers and spent some time in Canada assisting with research projects. Then, he began his long and distinguished career with Raytheon’s Missile Systems division and played a key role in the development of the company’s Patriot Missile.

Shortly after his marriage to Malden native Winifred A Greenquist, the couple moved to Waltham where they raised their family. Following his retirement from Raytheon, Ed and Winnie spent many happy years in Naples, Florida where Ed could indulge his passion for golf. He remained a lifelong, loyal fan of the Red Sox and all of the Boston sports teams.

Humble and hard-working, Ed was a generous husband, father, grandpa, uncle and friend. He was a man of few words, but his actions spoke volumes. He valued education and supported his children and grandchildren to achieve their own academic successes. His Catholic faith was important to him, and he remained a devoted parishioner at Our Lady’s for his entire life.

Ed loved traveling and especially enjoyed the time spent in Germany working for Raytheon. He and Winnie embraced the culture and food, participating in numerous Volksmarches and perfecting Ed’s recipe for Goulash Soup.

In addition to his wife of sixty-four years, Winnie, he leaves his children, Edward D. McCarthy (Joyce) of Framingham, Richard L. McCarthy of Waltham, Daniel J. McCarthy (Patricia) of Framingham and Linda K. McCarthy Raffier of Woodbridge, Virginia; his grandchildren, Miles (Raegan), Matthew (Alexandra Morris), and Jenna McCarthy, Ian, Brendan and Maira McCarthy, and Nathaniel and Benjamin Raffier, as well as several nieces and nephews and their families.

Ed was also the brother of the late Pauline Grecko and Mary Alice McCarthy.

Family and friends will honor and remember Ed's life by gathering for his Funeral Mass at 12 Noon on Wednesday, July 30th in Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham. Burial will be private.

To watch a broadcast [and recording] of Ed's Funeral Mass please visit https://my.gather.app/remember/edward-mccarthy-2025 at Noon on Wednesday.

Memorial donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 209 West Central Street, Natick, MA 01760 or at www.kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-new-england or to Northeastern University, Suite 402CP, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 or at giving@northeastern.edu