WOLFVILLE, N.S. — Bob McCarthy was one of the most legendary and well-loved profs — and characters — connected to Acadia University. I remember him beaming as he hosted popular jazz concerts, and dribbling a basketball when his knees would let him.
An educator, clarinet player and Jesuit scholar, Bob passed away during the rain and wind of Hurricane Dorian at 80 years of age.
He and his beautiful wife Marie arrived to join the music faculty at Acadia in 1972 when I was a student. My musical pals at the time raved about him as a professor. He taught woodwinds and theory, formed the Acadia Woodwind Quintet, and established the first jazz band at the university, which he led for more than 30 years.
But the young music prof lost his teaching job in the 1970s for no discernable reason. Bob’s students were enraged and organized protests. It was as if Acadia had the student uprisings in the '70s that earmarked other campuses in the '60s.
I recall that most students were upset and the music cohort went on a hunger strike. They set up cots in the old Students Union Building to protest together for a time.
Bob’s treatment led to the unionization drive, which resulted in the Acadia University Faculty Association forming as a trade union in 1976. Political scientist Pat O’Neill, who is now an emeritus professor, was chief negotiator.
Eventually arbitration resolved what became known as the McCarthy case and Bob got his job back. Maybe that’s when he felt like gathering up some student musicians to play at Acadia football games.
As an athlete, however, Bob’s passion was basketball. He was a charter member of Acadia's long standing 'Noon-time Basketball Association' (NBA). I remember him joking that he was getting a cortisone shot and would then be ready to hammer his ‘friends’ on the basketball courts with renewed vigor.
Even though my knees don't allow for much footwork, he’d say with a grin, “deviousness, elbows and a hook shot always win out over youth and athleticism.”
You didn’t have to know Bob long to hear that he’d been a Jesuit priest until meeting the love of his life. A strong supporter of Latin masses long after 1965, when the vernacular version took over, he also had a scholarly interest in the first two Jesuit priests who came to Nova Scotia.
When I ran into Bob, we’d often have a discussion about what I’d written my latest column about. He allowed the usual pattern with newspaper columns seemed to be that they get responses mainly from people who dislike them.
Once he wrote tongue in cheek, “I like yours for their understanding of the trials of youth, social concerns, and many other things. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for something that I dislike to write an acerbic response.”
Bob was also a really big fan of The Cruiser Report.
After he retired from Acadia, Bob, ever the superb musician, kept playing in a couple of bands and he taught at the Dorian Hall Academy of Music in Windsor and at his home studio in Hortonville. In 2010, he was awarded the Roger Taylor Medal from the academy.
His former student, Dr. Arthur Campbell, who is based now in Michigan, began his studies with Bob at the age of eight. He said at the time it was wonderful to be able to return to his home province to honour a “truly amazing man. His knowledge of music blew me away as a young man; he was an inspiration.”
Bob was a great musician, instructor and human being. I have no doubt that his students over the years were enriched by his many gifts. Jeff Hennessy, who was one of them, agreed with me that Bob was always a character. Now a music professor himself, he remembers Bob with his Latin transcription of “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing” and his ability to sing Mack the Knife in the original German. On hearing of Bob’s passing he planned to listen to some jazz in his honour. What a perfect way to mourn his loss.
There will be a celebration of Bob's Life in the Horton Community Centre in Grand Pre on Oct. 19 at noon.
Former Advertiser and Register journalist Wendy Elliott, now retired, lives in Wolfville.
