Donations picking up, first fundraiser scheduled by scholarship foundation created in honor of late Alderman Brian McCarthy

Though not as frequently as, say, a few months ago, it still happens whenever I need a quick answer to one of those annoyingly befuddling questions that are inevitable when trying to decipher some things regarding city government.

But then reality sets in, reminding me once again of the magnitude of the loss we who were fortunate enough to have known the late Brian McCarthy endured personally as well as professionally, as the go-to guru whenever one of those befuddling questions popped up.

As one fellow journalist attached to another newspaper that dabbles in Nashua coverage from time to time put it upon learning of McCarthy’s unexpected passing last November: “Now who am I going to call to help me out?”

Obviously those most affected by the loss are members of McCarthy’s immediate and extended family, with close friends and associates a close second.

But as they learned in the days and weeks after losing the 64-year-old “big nerd” ­ a designation bestowed by his daughter, Kim, and one he wore loudly and proudly on his sleeve ­ the impact he had on Nashua and Nashuans over more than a quarter century seems infinite.

So what could be more appropriate, Kim, her brother John, their mom Gloria and a group of McCarthy’s closest friends and associates decided, than to honor him by creating a memorial foundation geared toward raising funds for scholarships to be awarded to graduating Nashua High School South and NHS North seniors planning to pursue “a degree in higher education in a STEM-based field.”

So last spring was born the Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, which just a few short months later is in the process of planning its first fundraising event for this fall (see accompanying information box for details).

A word about the event: Even if tables full of hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, auctions and hours of socializing don’t really float your proverbial boat, the entertainment will almost certainly lure you to the Website to sign up.

On tap is legendary singer/songwriter Kieran McNally, for some 35 plus years a fixture at Killarney’s Irish Pub and one of Brian McCarthy’s close friends, so close that he played guitar and sang at the memorial service in November.

Also beginning to appear on the horizon is the presentation of the first scholarships, an event Kim McCarthy said will happen in the spring. The date, location and other details will be announced later this year.

The foundation plans also to recognize a “STEM Champion” at the spring event, which Kim McCarthy said will honor someone known for his or her involvement in, and advocacy of, STEM education in Nashua.

In the meantime, now underway is an overall, ongoing fundraiser of a more broad nature, one whose name would surely make Brian McCarthy smile: the “Big Bang” fundraiser.

You can read all about it ­ and make a donation of course ­ on the Website, where you can make a general donation or choose one of eight levels with, appropriately, such designations as “Infinity” (the top, $10,000 level), “Interstellar,” “Cosmos,” “Galaxy,” “Solar System,” “Constellation,” “Star,” or “Shooting Stars” ­ the last of which includes any donation up to $250.

The goal of the Big Bang fundraiser, Kim McCarthy told me, is to receive 50 major contributions. Why 50? Well, think “anniversary of moon landing.”

Kim McCarthy wasn’t around for that monumental feat ­ indeed, her dad was just turning 15 at the time ­ but said he described it to her and her brother.

“I remember him talking about watching it on TV,” she said. “He was really passionate about space exploration. Seeing that (live on TV) was a really big deal for him.”

Just like pretty much everything Brian McCarthy undertook, his passion for space exploration and astronomy in general not only never waned, it grew stronger with time, not surprising for a man who personified the term “lifelong learner.”

Dean Shalhoup’s column appears Sundays in The Telegraph. He may be reached at 594-1256, dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com or@Telegraph_DeanS.