Iona alumnus Dennis McCarthy ’82 and his wife, Angie Metcalf, have established the Charles Patrick McCarthy Scholarship Fund at Iona University. This scholarship is aimed at supporting student participation in the University’s Study Abroad program in Ireland. The endowment was created in memory of Dennis's late brother, Charles McCarthy, as a way to honor his legacy and assist students in experiencing an Iona education.

Charles McCarthy was the third son of Irish parents Mary and Charles McCarthy and grew up in Sloatsburg, N.Y. He graduated from Don Bosco Prep and was set to join his brother Dennis at Iona University before tragically passing away in a car accident on October 8, 1981, just a day before moving to campus.

The McCarthy family remembers Charles for his humor and devotion to loved ones. His passion for classic cars and rock music, especially the Rolling Stones, are fondly remembered by his family members: parents Mary and Charles; older brothers Dennis ’82 and James; and younger sister Noreen, an Iona alumna from the class of 1988.

“My mother remembers Charlie loving all things Irish,” Dennis shared. “Once we heard that Iona was establishing a campus in Ireland, we immediately thought of Charlie. We believe Charlie would have loved Ireland and its people,” the McCarthy family stated.

The Charles Patrick McCarthy Scholarship Fund will provide Iona students with opportunities to explore new learning experiences in Ireland. In further tribute to Charles's memory, family and friends gathered at the LaPenta School of Business for the dedication of the Charles Patrick McCarthy Study Room on the third floor.

Founded in 1940, Iona University is a private Catholic institution located near Manhattan with campuses in New Rochelle and Bronxville. It serves nearly 4,000 students with a diverse range of undergraduate degrees as well as master's programs across various disciplines. Recognized by prestigious rankings such as The Princeton Review’s "The Best 389 Colleges" for 2024 and The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse’s "2024 Best Colleges in America," where it ranked #66 overall nationally and #8 among Catholic schools.

Iona recently expanded its global footprint with a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland. The University's growth led it to change its status from College to University on July 1, 2022.