Mark Francis Dempsey

Dempsey, Mark Francis – (BCom, LLB). It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mark Francis Dempsey of Bedford on March 25th, 2011. Mark passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family. Born July 17, 1957, Mark was the son of Lawrence and Noreen (Murphy) Dempsey of Herring Cove. Mark is survived by partner, Monika Wright, his children Katelyn and Matthew, sister Debbi (Dr. Michael Murphy, Edmonton), brothers Stephen (Linda, Ketch Harbour), Robert (Krista, Halifax) and Eric, Halifax, his former wife Janet MacMillan (Bedford), as well as nieces and nephews Lauren, Amanda, Jonathan, Ryan, Teddy, Michael and Elizabeth and many cousins and devoted friends.
Mark grew up in Herring Cove, attended Dalhousie University, graduating with Bachelor of Commerce and Law Degrees. He was a partner in the Bridgewater, Nova Scotia law firm of Power Dempsey Leefe & Reddy for the past 28 years. Additional professional activities included serving as Chairman, Canada Pension Plan Review Tribunals in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick a Member and Vice Chairman of the Review Board under the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act. He has been a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society since 1982. Mark also served as the Regional Chairman for the Public Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia Law Day. He also served as the Vice President of the Lunenburg County Barristers' Association.
In addition to a successful law practice, Mark was an avid athlete with an extraordinary zest for life. His athletic pursuits included marathons, paragliding, skiing, Iron Man competitions and New Year's Day Polar Bear dips off the Herring Cove wharf with his son Matthew. Travelling the world, he participated in marathons and Iron Man competitions in North and South America, Europe and Antarctica. His favourite paragliding destinations were Parrsboro and Portugal. He was an active participant in the sport serving on the executive of HPAAC as secretary and editor, and had just begun a term as director of the National Paragliding Association of Canada.
Having traveled far and wide, Mark found his greatest pleasure in the company of his family and friends in Nova Scotia. Mark was above all a devoted son, husband and brother. His children Katie and Matt were his number one priority, his greatest joy and source of pride. Whether camping and kayaking, skiing or going to plays, Mark treasured every moment spent with his children. He was a true family man.
We sincerely thank staffs of 7A (Palliative Care) and 8A (Medical Oncology) at the VG, and CDHA Home Hospice.
The visitation will be held from 1 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday March 29th at JA Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Dr., Halifax. A Mass celebrating Mark's life will be held at 10 am Wednesday, March 30th at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church, 14 St. Michael's Avenue, Spryfield. Father Zach Romanowsky, co-celebrants Archbishop James Hayes and Father Terry O'Toole officiating. Family flowers only. Donations in memory of Mark may be made to Hope Cottage or the VG Palliative Care Unit 7A. To view or place an online message of condolence please visit www.jasnowfuneralhome.com

Eulogy delivered by Stephen Dempsey, March 30 2011 at St Michael's Church – Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mark - was a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a sportsman, a lawyer, and a faithful servant of God.

And he touched so many of us here today in his own special way. In his last week Mark asked me to take a moment to share some thoughts about his life and those of us he loved, cared for and served.

Well, being the 3rd child of 5, ensured Mark held that special place in the family – a place reserved for all middle children – the "troublemaker" – I recall Mom remarking that the average Canadian family had 2.5 children, and in her case having Debbie, Stephen and half of Mark would have been just fine!
Perhaps that was because he would ask for a glass of milk while traveling on the bus with Mom.

Often ordered about by my sister Debbie and sometimes pushed around by me, left Mark to exercise his rule over the youngest two – Robert and Eric – but as they would tell anyone, Mark's rule was benign and could often be influenced by even the smallest piece of candy.
Mark's competitive drive may have begun with our makeshift games of hockey in our house where we would use pillows for goalie pads and a ball of masking tape for a puck ... and Mark would usually win.

Mark quickly discovered his capacity to excel at school and eventually graduated J.L. Isley high school with a 98% grade point average – good enough for several $2 dollar bills doing the "report card" rounds to relatives in the Cove, and a scholarship to Dalhousie University.

Being that middle child meant that Mark understood his real role was to keep the family together and I mean the entire extended Dempsey / Murphy family – no small feat indeed. He knew that the way you keep your family together is to spend time with them. Mark would often recall the many stories he heard when he was a teenager playing cards with our grandmother Elsie and our great aunts Clair, Stella, Dora, and Dott. Or the adventures he had while taking our great uncle Bill to the grocery store and to run "errands". You may ask, "how can going to the grocery store be an adventure?" Well if you knew Uncle Bill you would not need to ask that question. Mark was interested in the younger generation as well and he always strived to stay in touch with our aunts (Joyce, Gloria, Lucie, Dossie, Janette, Marie, and Joan ), and his uncles ( Paul, Murray, Peter, David , Keith, George and Don). He was always interested in the pursuits of his young nieces and nephews (Lauren, Jonathan, Amanda, Ryan, Ted, Michael and Elizabeth).

If family is the currency of one's life, then Mark was indeed a rich man. Mark knew more of our relatives then I could ever find on the family tree, and that was probably because he spent more time than any of us in its branches…often way out on a limb!

I will always cherish my memories of the annual ski trips that us 4 Dempsey brothers would take to the New England and Quebec ski hills – quality time for us to act like boys on the slopes and responsible men in the "after hours" – or was that the other way round… well anyway, there are some things that even I can't fully recall! One memory that is clear was looking down from the chair lift at Mark on an expert run – it was cold, icy and steep – Eric yelled down to ask him why he stopped, thinking it was because he had second thoughts – and his response was "I am just admiring the view".

Most things Mark did like his skiing was undertaken at "full speed ahead - while enjoying the view". Whether paragliding with friends in Portugal, running marathons in Antarctica (in fact Mark ran marathons on 4 separate continents, completed the Tahoe Triple – 3 marathons over 3 consecutive days in Lake Tahoe), also riding his bicycle between Bridgewater and Halifax, or Kayaking in the tidal bore, Mark always tried to reach his limits – if for the only purpose of finding out how far he could go in competing against himself – because Mark was not one to want to see others fail.

Mark had many people he counted as friends; I just have to glance around the crowd assembled here today to celebrate his life, to see evidence of that.

I will now take the liberty to thank on his behalf, those dear friends that stood as his honor guard today – Edwin and Scott Dempsey, Curt Palmer and Michael Power – he loved you all dearly and your gift of friendship to him has been a comfort not just to Mark, but to his entire family.

There was a movie out a few years ago that some of us may recall – Ghost Busters - and it had a famous song with the line "who you going to call"?

When many of us got into trouble the answer to that refrain was - Mark. Never judgmental, always respectful and usually successful, Mark was the one person that many here today could count on when the chips were down - and Mark was in his legal gown - practicing law at his firm in Bridgewater – Power Dempsey Leefe and Reddy.

Mark could be counted on to keep secrets longer than the gov't s statute of limitations and to provide wise and honest counsel, even when it might not have been well received. Mark did what was in the best interests of his friends and clients no matter the cost or consequence. A friend of Mark's shared a story of how Mark helped a man who was seriously disabled in a car accident and had a drawn out dispute with his insurance company. The man wanted to be re-trained at the community college for a new career, but couldn't afford to pay the tuition from his disability benefit – so Mark quietly paid his tuition.

After Mark got sick he had an acquaintance come to his office back in January of this year - again a tough situation. She was disabled from her job; she was struggling to get by on the $140 a week disability benefit from her insurance policy. A few weeks ago, she explained that Mark had paid her December rent. Notwithstanding the concerns he likely had for his own situation, he continued to look to diminish the suffering of others.

I believe that most of all, Mark cherished his role as a father. Mark's two beautiful children - Katie and Matthew were everything to him; they were his world, his focus and his source of happiness.

With their mother Janet Macmillan's careful guidance and Mark's constant support, they were given the most valuable gift that any of us can receive – the unqualified love of parents.

Mark taught his children to be honest and respectful of others, to be hardworking, goal oriented in attaining their education, and to love their family without reservation. Mark's most lasting accomplishment is, and will always be, his children.

Mark often recounted the stories of his trip to Ireland with his son Matt to explore our Irish roots, and possibly take a moment or two to enjoy some of the traditional Irish refreshments along the way.

Mark and Katie traveled to Paris, for her 16th birthday, also stopping in London to ensure that their Canadian customs allowance was sufficiently exceeded.

More recently in Mark's life he met a wonderful woman – Monika Wright and they shared the last several years together. Monika is artistic and creative and Mark...was not. But they truly complemented each other. Monika quickly became part of our family.

Monika we are all so appreciative of the love, comfort and support, in sickness and in health that you have given to our brother and son. You stood by Mark at the most difficult time of his life – you are truly a member of the Dempsey family.

Mark had a strong faith in God – it stared naturally enough being raised by our parents Larry and Noreen, schooled by the sisters of Charity, and serving as an altar boy at St. Paul's in Herring Cove.

But his faith was really shaped by the love he demonstrated for his family, the care he provided for the elderly and sick, generosity offered to strangers, and his active participation as a member of the Catholic Church.

And it was this faith that granted him the ability to persevere through his disease, express not a word of complaint about his circumstance and never once seek the sympathy or pity of any of those who would visit him during his final days on this earth – his only interest was in our comfort not in his circumstance.

When Mark was taken to the hospital several weeks ago with severe complications from his chemo, we rushed there to see him - he had a painful infection in his throat and pneumonia - he couldn't talk so he wrote on a piece of paper "I feel OK" - of course he didn't feel ok - but his first instinct was to comfort his family and friends who were there to comfort him.

Mark rest well now in the company of our Lord, with the comfort of a life well lived and the knowledge that you have been and will always be in our hearts.
We love you and will miss you everyday and our lives are so much better because of you.

– Mark Dempsey was a son, a brother, a friend, a sportsman, a lawyer and a faithful servant of God.



Eulogy delivered by Stephen Dempsey, March 30 2011 at St Michael's Church – Halifax, Nova Scotia