John W. McCarthy, 66, manager and antiques dealer

John W. McCarthy, 66, of Mayfair, a retired office manager and antiques dealer, died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Wednesday at Frankford Hospital-Torresdale Campus.

Mr. McCarthy grew up in Feltonville. After graduating from Cardinal Dougherty High School, he worked as a clerk for the Social Security Administration in Philadelphia. He retired as office manager of the mid-Atlantic regional office of Social Security in 2001.

Since 1968, he had been married to Renee Winkler. The couple met in Margate, N.J. When their son was growing up, Mr. McCarthy coached soccer, baseball and basketball for the Holy Terrors Youth Organization in Mayfair.

He began collecting antiques in the 1980s after he and his wife built a vacation home in Jim Thorpe, Pa., and started to go to yard sales to furnish the home. Mr. McCar became an authority on art glass, old paintings, sketches and photographs.

Ten years ago, he began buying and selling jewelry. He had a great eye, his wife said. He would see a sparkle on a ring in a box of junk jewelry, buy it for $1, and discover that it was a diamond, she said.

He was a wonderful cook, his wife said. Twice a week, he would make pots of soup and deliver a quart or two to people who lived alone. "He didn't make a show of it, he just did it," she said.

In addition to his wife, a retired reporter at the Camden Courier-Post, Mr. McCarthy is survived by a son, Brendan; a sister; and two grandchildren.

A funeral service will be at 5 p.m. Monday at Mannal Funeral Home, 6925 Frankford Ave. in the Mayfair section of the Northeast. Friends may call after 3 p.m.

His family suggests that friends share a meal in Mr. McCarthy's memory.