About Us

In Memory

Jeremiah J. "Jerry" McCarthy, President of the Board of Directors of Friends of Sengekontacket Inc. (FOS), died at his home in Needham MA on November 29, 2010. He was 73. Jerry was married for 38 years to Jean Chase McCarthy. The McCarthys have a home in Oak Bluffs.

Jerry joined the FOS Board in September 2005. He served as Vice President and was then elected to President of the Board in September 2007. With his background in teaching biology, Jerry contributed to many aspects of FOS environmental education programs. Jerry spearheaded a number of efforts to address development in Ocean Heights that impacted the pond. He participated in the Barrier Beach Task Force at the time of the development of the beach management plan. Jerry reached out to the community on issues such as preventing trash on State Beach (“Carry In/Carry Out”) and the detrimental effect of balloons on island birds. He helped plan an educational outreach effort on the importance of beach grass to beach stabilization. As an officer he was thoughtful about keeping seasonal board members engaged, asking them to take on one project over the winter months of being off island. Until his health prevented him, Jerry was an FOS “trooper” at beach grass planting as well as beach clean-ups.

Born in Marlborough, Jerry graduated from Marlborough High School, and received his AB from St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., an MAT from Bridgewater State College. He received two National Science Awards. Jerry taught at Ward Senior High School in Westerly, R.I., St. George's School in Newport, The Wheeler School in Providence, Dana Hall School in Wellesley, culminating in 27 years at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill. He taught Biology and Human Physiology and for many years served as chair of the Science Department at Beaver. Jerry was active with the Polly Hill Arboretum including seven years as a docent at Polly Hill.

Since the founding of the Friends of Sengekontacket, Inc. (FOS) in 1989 to protect water quality in Sengekontacket Pond, a great deal has been learned about nutrients, salinity levels, exchange with the sea, deposition and movement of sand, and plant and animal populations in the pond. Hundreds of people have financially supported the collection and interpretation of this data. Friends of Sengekontacket, Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. Many volunteer hours are spent on activities ranging from planting beach grass on the Joseph Sylvia State Beach, to organizing environmental education programs, and partnering with government officials and community leaders to protect Sengekontacket Pond. We are concerned about the future of the Pond.

The Friends of Sengekontacket Inc is dedicated to the preservation of Sengekontacket Pond and the Barrier Beach.

Suzan Bellincampi, Sanctuary Director, Massachusetts Audubon Society at Felix Neck

Augustus Ben David, Environmental Consultant, former Director, Felix Neck Sanctuary