William Stephen McCarthy, 75 of Bedford and formerly of Lexington, MA died September 12, 2021. He was the loving son of William Timothy McCarthy and Florence Elizabeth Holian and the brother of Joan Marie Wall and her husband Thomas of Lexington and the late Janet Elizabeth Puffer and her late husband Stephen of Boxford. He was a much beloved, fun-loving uncle of numerous nieces and nephews, as well as great-nieces and great nephews.  Bill was a larger-than-life man, loved by friends and family and all who knew him. Bill graduated Lexington High School in 1964 and received his bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement from Northeastern University in 1968. That same year, Bill enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, "The Magnificent Bastards". Bill served in Vietnam where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. Upon his return from Vietnam, he enrolled in Suffolk Law School and earned a law degree. He worked as an attorney and an arson investigator throughout New England. He was also an educator, teaching Law Enforcement at Northeastern University. Only Bill's devotion to the Marine Corp surpassed his love of the New York Giants and he received Fan of the Year Award from the New England Chapter of the Giants Fan Club. Bill was an avid horse owner, who with his great friends enjoyed managing and racing horses. Bill enjoyed attending many casting calls and found his way into numerous Boston-area based films. Anyone who knew Bill can attest to his interest in American history and his unsurpassed trivia knowledge.  He often enjoyed stumping his fellow veterans, family, and friends. Bill was a member of the civil war roundtable and enjoyed teaching classes on Civil War history to his fellow Vets at the Bedford VA.  Bill was an active member of the American Legion, the Department of American Veterans and the Marine Corp League. In an interview Bill had with the Morse History Library, he stated his love for the Marine Corp: "I celebrate their birthday November 10th, every year. The Corp has helped me be a good attorney, disciplined and honest. As a Marine, you always try to do your best to help other Marines, help other people, for the Corp. Semper Fi!" Visiting hours at Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Rd. Lexington, Wednesday September 22 ^nd at 10am followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Brigid Church, Lexington at 11am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. There will be a private burial at Bourne National Cemetery, at a later date.

A rebroadcast of the funeral Mass can be found here at https://youtu.be/aWxRZZ1Ni5o

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's honor can be made to the Bedford VA Hospital - https://www.volunteer.va.gov/apps/VolunteerNow/