Late Bethlehem Attorney Leaves Lasting Legacy

A recent gift to support hospice programs at St. Luke’s deepens the impact of Justin K. McCarthy, Esq.

Over the course of his long life and successful legal career that spanned more than 50 years, Justin K. McCarthy, Esq., left a rich and lasting legacy of caring and wisdom. Among his greatest accomplishments is his support of programs offered through St. Luke’s University Health Network that have positively impacted patients and their families over the last several decades. And, with a recent transformative gift to support hospice programs at St. Luke’s, that impact will only deepen.

For many years, McCarthy, who died in August, 2023 at the age of 95, served on the Board of Trustees for the Network’s Visting Nurses Association (VNA) and was an early supporter of the hospice program that evolved into an integral component of VNA services. In addition to sharing his time, talent and energy, he was also an extremely generous donor who contributed more than $2 million in support of St. Luke’s.

Lisa Giovanni, who has served as president of St. Luke’s VNA since 2012, came to know McCarthy through his role on the organization’s board at a time of dynamic change and great expansion for St. Luke’s. She recalled a kind and generous soul who was consistently supportive of the organization’s mission, and hospice care specifically.  “You can tell he really cared about the organization,” she said. “You really had the sense that he was a person who would offer good and sound advice. He supported us financially and in so many other ways too. He had many gifts and talents, and he was very generous with them.”

Although hospice care has grown tremendously over the past two decades and is now a common option for those facing a terminal illness, Giovanni noted that many were unfamiliar with and perhaps a bit skeptical of the concept in the early years. McCarthy, she said, was an early and strong advocate with the Board for the compassionate, comfort-oriented approach to end-of-life hospice care, and his support was pivotal.

“His vision of what hospice could mean to the community and early support set the solid foundation for continued growth. His actions reverberated through the years and touched the lives of thousands of patients and their families,” said Giovanni, who oversees skilled home health care, hospice care and mother and baby programs – essential components of St. Luke’s University Health Network’s commitment to providing a continuum of quality care throughout its eight-county region.

Dedication to community was both a guiding principle and a family tradition for McCarthy, says his stepdaughter Barbara Niedland McCarthy, who says his longstanding involvement with St. Luke’s VNA and hospice programs was driven by a sense of inherent kindness. “He understood the impact of these programs and supporting their mission was very important to him.”

McCarthy’s contributions to the Hospice Endowment help support services that aren’t covered by insurers, Giovanni said, providing her staff with the resources to create end-of-life experiences for patients that are particularly meaningful to them. Additionally, his support underwrites continuing education for staff, covers bereavement support services for surviving family members and helps to defray costs for remembrance services that bring together families and their hospice care teams. 

“It also covers training for more than 50 volunteers,” Giovanni said. “All of these programs are essential to our mission, and Mr. McCarthy’s support narrows that gap between reimbursement and the important services we offer. Collectively, they create a broad, deep and lasting impact. It’s our privilege to help the patient and the family at a time of such vulnerability – spiritual support, emotional support. It’s an honor being able to lead this group of phenomenal people who make such a difference in hundreds of thousands of lives, and his generosity makes this possible.”