Longtime Aide & Radio Host Anthony McCarthy Dies At 57
Longtime Aide & Radio Host Anthony McCarthy Dies At 57
Anthony W. McCarthy, a brilliant communications strategist who shaped the public images of some of Maryland’s most influential figures—including Sheila Dixon, Martin O’Malley, Kweisi Mfume, and Elijah Cummings—passed away Sunday at the age of 57. His longtime friend and power of attorney, Yolanda Maria Martinez, confirmed that McCarthy had been battling kidney disease for years.
McCarthy had been on dialysis for four years while awaiting a kidney transplant. Martinez, who was by his side at the time of his passing, described him as her “spirit brother” and “best friend.”
“He is finally free of pain and resting in peace,” she said.
A Force in Maryland Politics
Born and raised in Virginia, McCarthy attended Eastern Mennonite University and Howard University before making Maryland his home in the mid-1990s. His arrival left an immediate impact on the state’s political landscape.
McCarthy served as communications director for Congressman Cummings and advised prominent leaders such as Mayors Kurt Schmoke and O’Malley, as well as Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming.
Kweisi Mfume reflected on McCarthy’s unwavering integrity and resilience:
“Anthony was the epitome of loyalty, principles, and hope. He never allowed the coarse nature of others to deprive him of his faith in God or his belief in the inherent nature of good in all people. Optimism and determination coexisted in his being. I will miss his trust and wise counsel. He was a friend until the end.”
During the Clinton administration, McCarthy also served as a senior speechwriter for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Donna Shalala.
A Trusted Voice in City Hall
Over his career, McCarthy served as spokesperson for three Baltimore mayors: Sheila Dixon (2006-2008), Stephanie Rawlings-Blake (2015-2016), and Catherine Pugh (2016-2019).
Longtime City Councilmember Carl Stokes, who worked with McCarthy from 2009 to 2010, described him as a “communications guru and wunderkind.”
“He was the lead messenger for all of us,” Stokes said. “We listened to him in a collaborative way. We traded thoughts, ideas, and perspective. He was impactful.”
Even after their professional ties ended, McCarthy and Stokes remained close, sharing weekly lunches at Nancy’s in Station North—McCarthy’s go-to order was chicken salad on white toast.
Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming credited McCarthy with helping her secure her role, recalling his unwavering support of her work—even when it led to political tension.
“Anthony McCarthy was a great man and one who I was so proud to call my friend,” she said.
Beyond Politics: A Voice for the Community
McCarthy’s contributions extended far beyond government offices. An ordained minister, he was an active member of the Baltimore City NAACP, a former board member of the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and vice president of Tears of a Mother’s Cry, a nonprofit supporting mothers who have lost children to violence.
His voice was a staple on Baltimore radio. As the former editor-in-chief of The AFRO-American (2001-2003) and associate publisher of The Baltimore Times, he went on to host “The Weekly News Roundup With Anthony McCarthy” on WYPR 88.1 FM and “The Anthony McCarthy Show” on WEAA 88.9 FM. Baltimore Magazine named him Best Talk Show Host in 2015.
In 2018, he added author to his list of accomplishments with the publication of his children’s book, The Visit.
An Enduring Legacy
Former mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah, who worked with McCarthy during his campaign, remembered him as a rare talent.
“As thoughtful and kind as he was an eloquent and towering force of nature.”
At a 2023 fundraiser for McCarthy, Vignarajah spoke of his profound influence:
“You’ve tonight—let me just keep track—been compared for your writing to James Baldwin, for your mind to Thurgood Marshall, and for your oratory and your words to Martin Luther King. Those are not small men. As I heard people say that, I thought to myself, it is only a matter of time, decades from now… where people will compare people to you.”
McCarthy is survived by his mother, Mary Haines; stepfather, Charles Haines; five uncles, three aunts, five nieces, and two nephews.
A memorial service will be announced in the coming weeks.
Longtime Aide & Radio Host Anthony McCarthy Dies At 57 was originally published on wolbbaltimore.com
