PROSPECT Eugene “Gene” McCarthy left his mark on Prospect in more ways than one.
McCarthy, the town’s former longtime assistant director of public works, died April 16. He was 83 years old.
The late former Mayor George Sabo Jr. hired McCarthy in March 1977, before even Mayor Robert Chatfield’s tenure in office started.
“From that day forward, Gene molded the public works department to what it is today and taught me an awful lot about construction,” said Chatfield, who was first elected in November 1977.
McCarthy retired in 2017.
The Town Charter states the mayor is the director of public works, but it is the assistant that runs the department. Chatfield said McCarthy, who referred to him as “kid,” brought a wealth of knowledge and experience in construction to the public works department.