Since the morning he died, Red Bank has been placed in a state of mourning for Police Chief Stephen McCarthy that will continue for one month, until Oct. 23.
Mayor Pat Menna has officially enacted the period of mourning in a directive posted on the borough's website.
It says that for the entire period, flags will remain at half-mast on all borough buildings, a memorial bunting will stay in place, members of the police department will wear mourning bands on their badges and "regulation dress uniform is ordered for all members of the department for all ceremonies attendant to the funeral."
McCarthy, a 27-year veteran of the force who died at 50 after losing his battle with cancer, will be laid to rest on Friday following a four-hour visitation at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank on Thursday.
Known as a people's chief with a kind, gentle demeanor, Chief McCarthy was a "devoted family man to his wife, children and parents" who rose through the ranks in the Red Bank Police Department to become its chief in 2010, his obituary said. The West Long Branch resident began his police career when he graduated from Rutgers University.
He later got his master's degree in public administration from Kean University. Chief McCarthy was a graduate of the 2004 FBI National Academy (235th class), West Point Command and Leadership Program and The National Training Center of Polygraph Science, according to his obituary. He was a member of numerous associations, including the Monmouth County and New Jersey State associations of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He was an active member of the PBA Local 39.
He is survived by: his beloved wife Maryellen; his loving children Matthew and Jenna; a brother Robert; his parents Elizabeth and Stephen; his mother-in-law, Teresa Ferrigno; his in-laws, Chrissy and Jim Mellaci, Rob and Lisa Ferrigno; and numerous other relatives.
Services …
Visitation will be held at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank, on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 27, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michaels R.C. Church in the West End section of Long Branch.
Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown, immediately following. Donations in Stephen's memory may be made to the Red Bank PBA —McCarthy Children's College Fund at PO Box 39, Red Bank, NJ 07701, www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/redbankpbalocal39/redbankpbalocal39s-mccarthyschildrenfund. Please visit Stephen's Memorial website at www.johnedayfuneralhome.com
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