", John P. Holdren,Teresa and John Heinz Professor, Kennedy School of Government; Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences; School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, "Dr. James McCarthy was an amazing man, a loyal friend, world-class oceanographer, a passionate advocate for science and for our climate balance. In addition to all the work Jim accomplished, his name hovers, unspoken and unrecorded, in the credits of countless other articles, papers, policies, books, and experiments. Jim’s own research on biological oceanography probed the nitrogen cycle in the oceans, seeking to understand how the ecology of plankton affected and was affected by nutrient cycling. Whether mentoring me on science and spirituality or on a trout stream, his gentleness of spirit, his glittering enthusiasm, his curiosity, and his love came through. The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA ~ 2 Adams Place, Quincy, MA 02169 ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Cookie Policy ~ Do Not Sell My Personal Information ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service ~ Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. His lively engagement was a joy to behold, enriching everyone present. ", Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States, "Jim was a global thinker—seamlessly integrating different disciplines to discover new insights about the ocean, climate change, and the planet. “Sorry to hear the passing of Jim McCarthy,” Andelman wrote on Twitter. Beyond the interdisciplinarity in his own work, Jim was a highly successful evangelist for that rubric, having long used his many platforms to communicate to his students, mentees, and the wider scientific community the importance of interdisciplinary approaches both within science and at its intersection with policy. has 15 new Tony nominations, robust lineup of virtual shows, talks, Broaden your worldview by engaging with diversity in the widest sense, Ali Asani counsels, “Nobody communicated the importance of the climate crisis in the context of the oceans as eloquently and passionately as Jim.”. Jim always had time to listen to a student (or a colleague) and his gently delivered advice would be accompanied by that wonderful twinkle in his eye.

Wonderful guy w/a tough exterior & a warm heart.”McCarthy was born on New Year’s Day 1928 in Mission Hill. He was 75. He was a valuable member of the Commission who contributed to its work even when it wasn’t possible to attend meetings, by offering comments, ideas, and penetrating questions, which he did as recently as two months ago. James McCarthy was an amazing man, a loyal friend, world-class oceanographer, a passionate advocate for science and for our climate balance,” wrote former Vice President Al Gore. In particular, Jim’s unwavering commitment to interdisciplinary research and teaching about the environmental challenges facing humanity has had a profound impact on myself and many other colleagues.

Many of his fellow scientists and environmentalists and former students posted on a memorial page set up by the Harvard University Center for the Environment. His primary research focused on plankton, and his work on nutrient controls on ocean productivity resulted in many awards, including the New England Aquarium’s David B. Despite being a sports radio talk show host in Boston, McCarthy was an unabashed New York Yankees fan. Choose the plan that’s right for you. "Jim McCarthy brought a deep sense of humanity to science, just as he brought science into the wider world of human witnessing. (Duggan) McCarthy, he was predeceased by his wife Theodora “Teddy” (Lee) McCarthy. I will miss his wise counsel, his willingness to fight for principle, and his unstinting contributions of time and moral support whenever these were needed. McCarthy and his wife Suzanne, who survives him, were also deans of Pforzheimer House from 1996 to 2009. “Dr. The ESPP students who now carry on his work are an important part of his legacy. Jim McCarthy led numerous international scientific efforts to alert the world to the effects of climate change. “Nobody communicated the importance of the climate crisis in the context of the oceans as eloquently and passionately as Jim. “Jim was the kindest, sparkliest, most deeply committed person I’ve known at Harvard,” wrote Samuel S. Myers ’87, principal research scientist, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Nobody communicated the importance of the climate crisis in the context of the oceans as eloquently and passionately as Jim. “, Bill Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development, Harvard Kennedy School, "Jim was the consummate faculty member and colleague. He served on the multidisciplinary concentration’s standing committee since its inception, and as its head tutor from 1996 to 2009 and again in 2011–12. McCarthy was known to generations of Boston sports fans as one third of the radio show "The Sports Huddle," Boston's longest-running sports talk show. While he was widely recognized for his scholarship and scientific leadership, he was a superb teacher and mentor....for students and for his peers. It is impossible to say which of these roles he relished the most, perhaps because he understood how they all intersect. Over and above all this, the Jim I knew and whose loss I mourn was my dear and loyal friend. ", Alan I. Leshner, Interim Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science, "James McCarthy, Professor of Biological Oceanography at Harvard University, was appointed to the United States Arctic Research Commission by President Obama in November 2012, and continued to serve until he passed away on December 11, 2019. Not exactly sure, but Diane Paulus is working on it. ", James Engell, Gurney Professor of English and Professor of Comparative Literature, "A gentleman, a caring mentor, a probing scholar, an inspiring advocate for the earth...Just some of the many dimensions of the wonderful Jim McCarthy that I had the good fortune to experience and through which I will both mourn and celebrate him. He was an MVP.”. “In the old days of radio there was nothing better than 'The Sports Huddle' with Eddie, Mark and Jim," WEEI's Glenn Ordway wrote. He cared passionately about the environment and also about the people around him.”. Without his constant encouragement, there would have been no Program on Science, Technology and Society (STS) at Harvard. Jane Lubchenco, Distinguished University Professor, Oregon State University; Recipient of the Harvard GSAS Centennial Medal, 2019; Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA; 2009-2013); Former inaugural U.S. Science Envoy for the Ocean (2014-2016), "In many ways, Jim was the heart and soul of the Environmental Science and Public Policy (ESPP) concentration, which he helped found and then served as head tutor for many years.