Jack's Obituary
Gainesville, FL., October 17, 2023
Longtime television reporter and news anchor Jack McCarthy passed away this past weekend at the home of his son. Jack was preceded in death by his parents John and Rose Mullen of Caton, IL. He is survived by his two sons, Brett Mullen (and his wife Caroline) of Royal Oak, MI. and Sean (Mullen) McCarthy of Gainesville, FL., grandchildren Jack Mullen, Samantha Mullen, Caleigh McCarthy, and Sean McCarthy, Jr.
Born John McCarthy Mullen Jr., in New Iberia, LA. in 1936, he spent 1939 and 1940 living in Panama. After returning to the States, his family settled in Central Illinois, first in Canton and then Lewiston. While a student at Lewiston High School, he began working on-air at a local radio station. After graduating, he attended Bradley University in Peoria where he majored in broadcasting and continued to work in local radio. After earning his degree, he enlisted in the United States Army as a broadcast specialist and was sent to Frankfurt, Germany. For three years he hosted the popular morning radio program (as “Kayo” Mullen) on Air Forces Radio (now known as AFN), where he was heard throughout most of Western Europe. Upon returning to Peoria, he secured a job with a local television station as a street reporter before being promoted to the anchor position in Champaign-Urbana, IL. While in Champaign, his friend John Kelly, who was working in Detroit at the time, told him of an opportunity at WJBK-TV. In 1966, Jack began his Detroit television career and would be a fixture there for over 30 years. In 1967, he extensively covered the Detroit Riots, and in 1968, the Associated Press awarded him first place for excellence in Individual News Reporting. WXYZ-TV then lured him to Channel 7, beginning an exodus of broadcasters who joined him to make up what would become the most successful television news station in the country. Jack anchored alongside the legendary Bill Bonds and covered the biggest news events in the city and state. In 1977, he began hosting the Friday Feast, a segment that aired for nearly two decades. While hosting the Feast, he authored a cookbook featuring the recipes from his television reports. In 1984, he opened Jack McCarthy’s Restaurant in Keego Harbor, MI., and later Jack McCarthy’s Aristocrat in West Bloomfield, MI. In the 2000’s, he attempted to retire to Florida, but was hired back to continue his restaurant reports, renamed McCarthy’s Menu.
He produced segments for WJBK as well as stations in Saginaw-Bay City and Tampa-St. Petersburg. He also took on fill-in reporting work at WJLA-TV in Washington D.C. and worked as an anchor at Bay News 9 in Tampa, FL. Jack lived for years on St. Petersburg Beach, FL. and in Stuart, FL. He was the Detroit Ambassador for the March of Dimes and was involved with assisting dozens of other charities throughout his career. He was an avid boater, golfer, scuba diver who dove all over the world, and was a lifelong traveler, visiting all 50 states (many in his RV) as well as over 100 other countries.
Funeral services are being handled by the Stitz-Clapper Funeral Home in Kentland, IN. Burial services will be on Saturday, October 28 at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Canton, IL. Jack requested that friends (those he knew as well as those he was unable to meet) have a drink and a laugh.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made to the Journalism Department at Bradley University in Jack’s name
