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.