In Memory of
John “Jack” Dempsey
December 23, 2021
Obituary
John “Jack” Dempsey, age 72, of Packanack Lake in
Wayne, passed away early Thursday morning, December 21,
2021 with loving family was by his side at the time of
his passing.
Friends may visit with the family at the
Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral
Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday,
December 28, 2021 from 4-8 PM. Due to the rapid spread
of the COVID virus and John’s family’s concern for
everyone’s safety, masks and vaccination will be
required.
Because John was a longtime parishioner, Funeral
Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, December
29, 2021 from the funeral home, then to Immaculate Heart
of Mary Roman Catholic Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne
where at 10:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. After
the mass, John will be laid to rest in Mount Calvary
Cemetery, Butler.
John
“Jack” Dempsey, age 72, of Packanack Lake in Wayne,
passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, December
23, 2021.
John was born and raised in Hoboken, NJ. He was the
third born child of William and Gertrude (Taylor)
Dempsey, born just minutes before his twin sister
Maureen. After graduating from Hoboken High School with
the Class of 1968, he began college at Northwestern
Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma. When his
father passed away unexpectedly, John returned to New
Jersey and stayed closer to home where he attended
Rutgers University. Sensing the call to a career in law
enforcement, he enrolled in the Port Authority of NY/NJ
Police Academy. Before he could graduate, he was drafted
by the United States Army to serve in Vietnam. Upon
completion of his Military Police training, he received
new orders to serve in Stuttgart, Germany at the United
States European Command in the Military Police Honor
Guard. Upon his return to civilian life, John began his
career with the Port Authority of NY/NJ Police
Department. John was assigned to duty at the George
Washington Bridge where he served for the next 30 years
in many capacities. Throughout his career, John
volunteered many hours assisting with and entertaining
as emcee at the Port Authority fundraisers and
retirement parties. He also was Port Authority
racquetball champion two years in a row.
Jack, as he was known to his fellow officers, loved his
job and took pride in the brotherhood he shared with his
fellow officers. John was a first responder on the
September 11th attack on America. It was an especially
painful and grueling time consisting of 12 hour shifts,
6 day workweeks for over a year. The loss of 37 fellow
officers and the attendance of most of their funerals or
memorials had a profound effect upon John’s life.
John also had his own tax preparation business.
Fittingly called Jack Dempsey’s Tax Preparation, he had
approximately 500 of his own clients and, in addition,
worked at a local CPA. He continued his tax business
throughout his retirement up until 2020. John never
hesitated to prepare a tax return at no cost for a
client or friend who might be struggling in some
capacity.
John was the beloved husband of Sheila (nee Ferry). They
were high school sweethearts and classmates at St.
Michael’s High School in Union City where John was a
forward on the school’s basketball team and Sheila was
his cheerleader. They started dating in their sophomore
year and, to this day, Sheila still wears her “going
steady ring.” Their first date was at a St. Michael’s
dance where word got out that “Dempsey likes someone!”
Sheila’s wish came true when she found out it was her.
They were dating when John was drafted into the Army
but, because Sheila worked in the airline industry, the
miles couldn’t keep them apart. She flew to Germany to
see John several times to visit him. They eventually
exchanged their wedding promises before God, family and
friends on Saturday, November 16, 1974 at St. Michael’s
Monastery in Union City, NJ. John and Sheila started
married life in Fairview, NJ before moving to Packanack
Lake in 1985 where they’ve lived to the present.
Outside of work, one of John’s favorite pursuits was
playing golf. Most of the time he played with his
brother-in-law Tom at the Passaic County Golf Course. He
loved fine restaurants and having dinners with family.
John and Sheila had enjoyed a lot of travel together.
Once John visited Ireland, the country where Sheila’s
parents were originally from, it quickly became his
favorite destination. Closer to home, they escaped down
the shore to LBI. Funny thing was, John never even put a
toe in the water or even the sand. His idea of a good
time at the shore meant enjoying it all from a distance
while reading a good book and enjoying island
restaurants. Even closer to home John loved……his home!
He loved living in the Packanack Lake community.
Above all else, John’s greatest and most cherished times
were the ones spent with his family. John’s kids will
always have fond memories of a longtime tradition where
he took them to one of the local diners for Saturday
morning breakfast. They faithfully went every Saturday
and all the diner staff knew the drill when John Dempsey
walked through the door. John’s dedication to his
children’s was motivated by his immense love. When they
were young, he coached in their sport leagues and
throughout their formative years, he never missed a
sporting event. His family will also remember how John
fancied himself a piano player. While everyone agreed
that John was never going to stand in for Billy Joel at
Madison Square Garden, they enjoyed the fact that he had
such a good time playing.
John adored his grandchildren and they would unanimously
say that they loved him right back. When his oldest
granddaughter Molly was very young, she began calling
John “Paca”. To this day, no one really knows why but
the name stuck and Molly, Owen, Eileen and Kieran were
crazy about their silly goofy Paca! He’d eat candy and
chocolate cake with them and tease them every time he
saw them by always exclaiming “I think today is my
birthday” even though it obviously wasn’t 364 days out
of the year.
John’s family and friends would describe him as a real
character. He had a quick wit who loved sarcasm and
busting anyone’s chops. He was also a great storyteller
and a very compassionate man with a spirit of empathy so
strong that, if you cried, he did too. He will be dearly
missed by all who had the opportunity to share life with
him.
John was the most beloved husband of Sheila (nee Ferry),
blessed in marriage for 47 years. He was the wonderful
father of: William Dempsey and wife Jennifer, Sheila
Cooper and husband Scott, and Deirdre Flores and husband
Andrew; adoring grandfather of: Molly, Owen, Eileen and
Kieran; loving brother of: Kathleen McCahill and her
late husband Richard, Eileen Brant and her late husband
Whitey, and his twin sister Maureen Wolf; and much loved
brother-in-law of: the late Margaret Theresa Ferry, the
late James Ferry and his late wife Anne, the late John
Ferry and his wife Betty, William Ferry and his late
wife Patricia, Vincent Ferry, and Mary Anne Deregibus
and husband Tom, and many of his beloved nieces and
nephews.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May
Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 from 4-8 PM. Due to the rapid
spread of the COVID virus and John’s family’s concern
for everyone’s safety, masks and vaccination will be
required.
Funeral Services will be held at 9:30 AM on Wednesday,
December 29, 2021 from the funeral home, then to John’s
parish church, Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic
Church, 580 Ratzer Road, Wayne where at 10:30 AM a
Funeral Mass will be offered. For those unable to
attend, the mass will be
livestreamed via the
church’s website. Once on the site just look for “I.H.M.
LIVESTREAM” and click on it to view. After the mass,
John will be laid to rest in Mount Calvary Cemetery,
Butler.
