James Richard Dempsey

GLENS FALLS James Richard Dempsey, 88, lifelong resident of Glens Falls, N.Y. and Naples, Fla., died unexpectedly, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, at Glens Falls Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Nor-thumberland, N.Y., on July 17, 1919, he was the son of Robert James Dempsey and Teresa Yarter Dempsey of Hudson Falls, N.Y. On Aug. 26, 1944, he married Patricia A. Doheny of Brighton, Mass. Jim graduated from St. Mary's Academy, Glens Falls and attended the University of Notre Dame, from 1938 until entering the Army Air Corps in 1941. Serving four years in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Staff Sgt. Dempsey served as a B-25 Mitchell Bomber tail gunner in the 12th Air Force Division, European Theatre on the Island of Corsica, driving the Rommell Corps from Africa back into Germany. Returning to Glens Falls in 1945, he joined his father and brother, Robert, to run the family business started in 1900, Dempsey Block and Steel. He directed operations until retiring. Jim was a former president of the NYS Steel Fabricators Association, past member of Elks, Glens Falls Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, and past commander of American Legion Post 574, Hudson Falls. He ran for supervisor, town of Queensbury in 1968, and was actively involved in numerous political and community activities until moving to Naples, Fla., in 1992. He moved back to Glens Falls in 2004, to be closer to his family and lifelong friends. Jim was an avid golfer for more than 70 years, a member of the Glens Falls Country Club and Gleneagles Country Club, Naples, Fla. A founding member of Hickory Hill Ski Area, Warrensburg, he served as president, cut trails and built the original lodge in the early 1950s. His passion for skiing is shared today by all his children and grandchildren. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Patricia A. Dempsey, residing at Pleasant Valley Infirmary of Argyle; his children: Shari Harris and her husband, Greg, of Dunnellon, Fla., Lt. Col. (ret.) James R. Dempsey Jr. of Dexter, Mich. and wife, Jane Dempsey, Maura Mark and her husband, Edward, of Sedona, Ariz., Kelly Dempsey-Little and her husband, J. David Little, of Glens Falls and Shawn Dempsey of Saratoga Springs; eight grandchildren: Ryan Trombley of Ocala, Fla., Sgt. Adam Dempsey and his wife, Carolyn, of Bolling AFB Washington, D.C., Erin Conrad and her husband, John, of South Haven, Mich., Jack Strange of Philadelphia, Pa. Lyndsay Strange of Glens Falls. Kendra and Erica Mark of Sedona, Ariz., Alexandra Pellegrini of Ballston Spa; and a great-grandson, Sean Patrick Dempsey of Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Our Lady of the Annunciation, 448 Aviation Road, Queensbury. Reception to follow in the church hall immediately after the service. Calling hours will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 29, at Singleton-Healy Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury. Burial will be in the Union Cemetery, Hudson Falls at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, 2007.

This obituary was originally published in the Post Star.