December 5, 2023
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–MidJersey News is saddened to report the passing of our friend and colleague, veteran news photographer/videographer Brian McCarthy, who died on Nov. 28, 2023 following a brief hospital stay. Brian was a loyal supporter of MidJersey News from the beginning and his photos have featured prominently on this site over the past four years.
In a career that spanned nearly 50 years, Brian photographed presidents and politicians, Hollywood actors and rock stars, race car drivers and athletes. He photographed combat overseas and peaceful protests closer to home. He photographed community events, charity fundraisers and parades.
But he was best known for his photos and videos showing the work of firefighters, police, emergency medical professionals, the military, and other first responders in the Mercer County area. Brian responded to fires, crashes, crimes and other breaking news incidents not because he wanted to exploit such tragedies. Instead, he did so because – through his camera lens – he wanted to document the positive things that emergency services personnel do day in and day out. He wanted the public to see the heroism and humanity of first responders in the face of such horrors.
For this work, Brian earned the respect of many in the emergency services community. Tributes to Brian and memories of him are being posted on his Facebook page by active and retired firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, as well as longtime friends and fans.
Brian worked as an assignment photographer for United Press International and as a longtime freelancer for both of Trenton’s daily newspapers and other publications. He was also a publisher in his own right, having printed various community news publications over the years. In the digital age, his work has appeared all over Facebook and YouTube.
“I’m Brian McCarthy and you’re on scene with me at… Let’s see what’s going on.” That was how Brian usually introduced his videos. In those videos, Brian always sought to inform and educate his viewing public about what was going on and how emergency personnel were working to save the day.
A native of Massachusetts, Brian and his family moved to New Jersey after his father – Walter “Pep” McCarthy, previously the head football coach at Boston Latin School – was hired as the freshman football coach at Princeton University in 1960. After 10 seasons coaching, “Pep” McCarthy assumed top administrative roles in Princeton University’s athletics department.
Sadly, Brian’s mother Ruth passed away in 1973 and his father was killed in a car crash in 1977. MidJersey extends our condolences to Brian’s daughter Shannon, his sister Lauren and his brother Sean.
