A celebration of life for one of the oldest living Ocean Beach natives was held on Saturday, June 20. Family and friends gathered at St. Catherine’s Catholic church to honor the life of Eileen McCarthy.
Eileen passed away on April 26, 2026. She was 104 1/2, plus one day, years old.
After the service, an old-fashioned Irish wake was held at the popular Fast Times Bar & Grill in Clairemont. Family and friends shared stories and photos of a long life far apart from the norm.
Point Loma High School recently celebrated its 100th Centennial Celebration on Sept.26, 2026. At the time, Eileen was recognized as their oldest living alumna.
More than a thousand alumni and guests gathered at the Port Pavilion Pier at the Broadway Pier for the festive event.
Eileen Finley was born on Oct. 25, 1921, in Ocean Beach.
Her parents and older brother arrived from Canada in 1918. Many of the older homes in Ocean Beach and Point Loma were built by her father, George.
St. Agnes Catholic Church in Point Loma was his pride and joy.
Eileen’s early life was focused on the performing arts. As a young girl, she was well-known on KGB radio. Eileen was a popular singer-actor on a program titled “The Children’s Hour.”
Many of the radio personalities she worked with, such as Art Linkletter, would later move on to perform on television.
Eileen’s real love was ballet. She was a principal dancer in San Diego’s Starlight Ballet Company. Her talent was recognized by Russian choreographers and Hollywood personalities.
Cecil DeMille, the father of motion pictures, was amazed by her beauty and dancing ability. DeMille wanted her to star in his movie “The Ballerina.”
Eileen left it all for the love of her life, Jim McCarthy. She moved back to Ocean Beach and had six children.
Eileen Finley McCarthy had an amazing life for 104 1/2 years. She was a graceful ballerina, loving mother and adoring grandmother.
On Monday, June 22, Eileen’s ashes were placed, by her family, on top of her loving husband’s grave at Holy Cross Cemetery.
