Colman McCarthy (March 24, 1938 – February 27, 2026) was an American journalist, teacher, lecturer, pacifist, progressive, anarchist and long-time peace activist.

Early life Colman Joseph McCarthy was born, the youngest of four brothers, in Glen Head, New York, on March 24, 1938.

Career

McCarthy's educational philosophy attracted some controversy in the past, with two Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students calling in 2006 for a more balanced presentation of the issues covered by the class.

As a pacifist, journalist, and ethical vegetarian, he was awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Sherborn, Massachusetts for his nationally syndicated column in The Washington Post. McCarthy also won an Alicia Patterson Foundation fellowship for journalism and, in 2010, the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize.

McCarthy died from complications of pneumonia on February 27, 2026, in La Romana, Dominican Republic, where he was living with his son. He was 87.

Selected works Disturbers of the Peace: Profiles in Non Adjustment Inner Companions Pleasures of the Game Baseball Forever Involvements: One Journalist's Place in the World All of One Peace I'd Rather Teach Peace Strength Through Peace (editor) Solutions to Violence (editor) At Rest With the Animals My America (contributor) Contemporary Anarchist Studies (contributor) In the Name of Profit (contributor) Peace Is Possible (contributor)

See also List of peace activists

Further reading

The New York Times Nov. 17, 1986: Washington talk; A Skirmish Involving a Pacifist The Washington Post Jan. 13, 1985 The Washington Post Jan. 12, 1997 The Washington Post Feb. 26, 2006 The Wall Street Journal Feb. 25, 1998 Los Angeles Times Feb. 14, 1994 USA Today Oct. 16, 2001 Minneapolis Star Tribune Feb. 9, 1990 Minneapolis Star Tribune Oct. 4, 1998 San Diego Tribune March 12, 1988 The Hartford Courant Oct. 3, 1990 Greensboro News & Record Jan. 21, 1999 Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Nov. 22, 2002 The Progressive Nov. 1986 The Progressive Jan. 1991 Teacher Oct. 2003 Vegetarian Times July 1989 Washingtonian Feb. 2002 Editor & Publisher Feb. 8, 1997 Hope Magazine July/August 2003 CBS Sunday Morning November 29, 2020

References

External links

Ex-Journalist Sees Schools as Peace Training Ground Doves and War Drums: Strong Words on Nonviolence Teaching Nonviolence: McCarthy is interviewed on Humankind public radio