On February 27, 2026, beloved former B-CC Peace Studies teacher Colman McCarthy sadly passed away. McCarthy was a beloved figure in the B-CC hallways for many years, being a teacher many looked to for positivity and peace.
McCarthy was a person with many talents and impacts on the world. He worked as an unpaid teacher for B-CC, spent time as a trappist monk, wrote for The Washington Post, and was an aspiring professional golfer. After his time in the Trappist monastery, McCarthy aspired to preach peace not only as a journalist but as a teacher.
Former student of McCarthy, Liz Marston, explains her thoughtful nature. “His [class] wasn’t a class where you could disappear. He wanted to hear from you, and when you spoke, it was clear he was really listening,” Marston explains. McCarthy taught peace to his students and ensured that everyone had a place to talk freely.
Marston also explains how McCarthy had an impact on her life and how he changed her perspective on the world. “[I learned] to look at issues from a different lens and to ask questions. He was big on not passively accepting things just because that’s how they’ve been done,” Marston says.
Liz Marston emphasizes the truth in McCarthy’s life and in his work. “It’s inspiring that he was teaching the very topic that informed how he lived his life. Doesn’t get much more authentic than that,” Marston finalizes.
