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Dempsey, John (Jack) R. 12/25/1935 - 7/18/2018 Ann Arbor, Michigan It has been written that "life is not about our birth date or about our date of death. Rather, our life is about the dash in between and what we do with it." Jack Dempsey certainly accomplished a tremendous amount in that dash. He was born in Corry Pennsylvania by Rex and Lila Hinman Dempsey. At age four he was moved to Buffalo NY. At the age of seven, he returned to Corry to live with Carl and Lucy Hinman, his mother's parents, and his great aunt, Ola Young. Lucy's sister who was a teacher and a very influential part of his life. Jack was grateful for the genetic blend inherited from his parents. He was born to an Irish Catholic father and a Methodist mother. He was exposed to the Irish Catholic side to a lot of music, warmth and fun. On his mother's side a strong Protestant work ethic. As he portrayed, he would hear from the Hinmans and his Aunt Ola, "a busy boy is a happy boy." From the Dempsey's, he would hear, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." He truly split that difference in his life. As his mother knew, he needed structure in his life. That was provided in Kenmore, New York, where he lived from seventh grade through high school. At the age of seven Jack had his first taste of a potential for a better life. He was sent to Chautauqua Institute at Lake Chautauqua. This was a gathering place for religious leaders, educators and musicians. By the time he was in his teens, he was spending entire summers there. He worked there cleaning out the amphitheater, cutting grass and eventually becoming a guide for visitors. Many prominent families were along the route and he would point out the homes of these people. What he admired the most however, were those who were not only this affluent but as he would always say, "had real class." To him he liked open and kind people who didn't hold it against you that you didn't come from similar circumstances. He lived by this value system the rest of his life. It was at Kenmore high that he got a very good grounding in English, math and history. He set his sights on college; specifically Cornell, his stepfather's alma mater. Through will, another mentor cornelian, scholarships, student loans, waiting tables, working as a dorm counselor, milk, laundry and mail delivery, Jack made it through Cornell. He became class President his junior year in 1956. He was also class secretary in 1954 and 1957. He had been told by his fraternity brothers of Beta, Theta, Pi that he was too friendly and needed to be more conservative. This really points to what he always knew of himself, he was extremely extroverted, outspoken and at the same time a very, very sensitive man to the end of his life. As he called it, he was thin-skinned. He graduated with a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. Upon graduation, he commenced a life insurance career in Buffalo, NY with State Mutual in August of 1957. He called on his beloved Beta Theta PI to purchase their first insurance plans. More success came when he focused on the medical market and called on the young interns and residents at the University of Buffalo medical school. The most important thing which happened to him in 1960 was he met Barbara Jane Bentley on St. Patrick's Day at Crotty's Irish pub. He was pursuing his Chartered Life Underwriter status and she was working at Bell Telephone as an editor. They were married August 13th, 1960. He developed a serious blood disease called ITP but during this disabling battle, he achieved his CLU studies. Once again Jack was about "turning the lemons of misfortune into lemonade." One year after his CLU designation in 1963, he qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table. After this he qualified every year of his career. There were many reasons for his success, including a very devoted wife and mother. In addition, he believed first and foremost in forming relationships built on trust. In 1964, he was brought to Alexander Hamilton a new life insurance company formed in Michigan by a general agent and Cornelian also from Buffalo. A month after taking up new residence in Ann Arbor Michigan, his ITP reappeared. He had a 50 50 chance of living and ironically had been recruited to join Alexander Hamilton because of his experience selling life insurance to doctors. After winning yet another battle, he became an independent agent and focused on business insurance in 1966. He found few people in the area working in the group insurance arena. He became focused on benefit planning for small, medium and even some large businesses which became his marketing niche; a marketing strategy. He linked up with Banker's Life of Iowa, now Principal Life as he became a general agent for them. This was a time Dempsey Inc. was established in 1968. He was the first life insurance agency to be incorporated in Washtenaw County. Jack believed a part of your job description should be that if you are benefiting from a community or an industry, you should give back to it and that he did so through the following: He spoke at CLU, Life Underwriters, Million Dollar Round Table and at AALU meetings. He served as the finance V.P. for MDRT and was a board member of the Top of the Table. His volunteer activities allowed him to be the past president of Ann Arbor Life Underwriters, CLU Chapter, Estate Planning Council, Chamber of Commerce, and Barton Hills Country Club. He was Chairman for Ann Arbor Hospice and was on the Planned Giving Committee for St. Joseph Hospital. He was also Chairman for 15 years of the Washtenaw County Cancer Golf Tournament. In the 70's he specialized in business insurance and joined the AALU. In the 80's he qualified eight times for the Seven Million Dollar Forum and Top of the Table. These exclusive sales organizations are comprised of 300 to 400 of the leading life insurance salesman internationally. Jack is survived by his wife Barbara of 57 years, his son Michael, who continues the legacy of Dempsey Incorporated in Ann Arbor, his son John, his daughter Kim and his grandchildren Carly, Patrick and Mackenzie Dempsey. Jack will always be remembered by his family for being an incredible producer, a gifted piano player, having a great sense of humor and being an avid golfer. He found an appropriate metaphor in his beloved game of golf. "You do come to a point in life where you say this is who I am, just accept me, warts and all, and let's have a little more fun along the way." In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Humane Society of Huron Valley.
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Barb and Family
Just learned of Jack's passing. We will all miss Jack. I was in Cornell ILR with him. Bob Safford [also ILR] and I brought him to Michigan.
Many good times together.
R.I.P., Jack
Tom and Shirley Itin
Thomas Itin
June 12, 2019
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your husband, father, and grandfather . I was blessed to have grown up around the corner from the Dempsey family in Lansdown subdivision. What wonderful memories I have of Mr. Dempsey. My heart and prayers go out to his wife Barb,; his children , Kim, Mike, and John, grandkids, and all who knew him.
Jill Batzer
September 22, 2018
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Kirsten Knecht
August 13, 2018
Take time to grieve and find comfort in knowing that God is near to all those calling on him. PSALM 145:18
Pennsylvania
August 11, 2018
Maria A
August 11, 2018
Sorry for your loss. Fond memories of baseball with John in our early years.
Jeff Birmingham
August 11, 2018
I am so sorry for your loss. I have a lot of fond memories of your dad from baseball and swimming as we grew up.
Cash Butler
August 11, 2018
I always enjoyed his smile, meeting him as part of the "Holidays Restaurant" regulars along with his lovely wife. He will be missed.
Teresa Roberts
Teresa Roberts
August 10, 2018
Mike, Lisa and family, I'm so very sorry to read about the your loss. I remember meeting Jack & Barbara at Bryant when Carly attended. He always had a smile on his face. May God be with you all during this difficult time.
Sharon Gingras
August 10, 2018
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