FRIENDS of a Durham-educated American lawyer have set up a bursary in his memory.
Michael McCarthy, originally of Bethseda, Maryland, studied two master’s degrees at Durham University between 2000 and 2003 before being admitted to the Bar in the District of Columbia, Maryland, working as a lawyer specialising in property, wills and trusts.
He died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart condition in May 2012, leaving his wife Maura and a young son, Hugh.
In his memory, friends have established a fund to help a postgraduate student at Durham University’s Castle College visit the US to enhance their studies.
John Slinger, chair of the trustees of the Michael McCarthy Memorial Fund, said: “This will be a living memorial to an incredible man whose life was cut tragically short.
“In subsequent years, it may be possible to offer a grant to a sixth form school student in the Durham area, to further enhance US-UK relations.”
A fundraising dinner will be held at Durham Castle on Saturday, November 15, at 7pm.
There will be a drinks reception in the Tunstall Gallery, a three-course dinner with wine and coffee, a raffle and a talk by US diplomat and counter-terrorism expert Daniel Benjamin.
Tickets are £95 each. For further details or to make a donation to the fund, visit dunelm.org.uk
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