James Maurice Dempsey

DEMPSEY, James M. James M. "JD" Dempsey, 72, died on Monday, February 19, 2018, at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, following a short illness. JD was born on November 3, 1945 in Fort Barnwell, North Carolina. He was the oldest son of William Hal Dempsey, who died in 2015, and Addie Frances Dempsey. JD lived in Miami, Florida until he was 16, when his family moved to West Palm Beach. In 1962, he played in the High School National Championship football game in the Orange Bowl for the Miami Senior High School "Stingaree" football team. After graduating from Riviera Beach High School in 1964 and Palm Beach Community College in 1969, JD served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. He was a partner or owner of several businesses in Palm Beach County during his lifetime, including August Electronics, Sunshine Custom Builders, National Solar and Energy Management and Renegades Country Bar and Grill. He was also the past President of the Singer Island Kiwanis Club. JD enjoyed collecting antique cars that he restored with the help of his good friend, Heinz Zimmerman. His long history in AA was a cornerstone in his life. JD also loved to travel and visit historical locations. He also loved to recount his many hunting, fishing and diving trips with his friends and family, and he never let facts get into the way of a good story. JD is survived by his mother, Frances Dempsey; his brother, Glenn Dempsey (Eilleen); and his nephews and nieces, Tim Aumiller (Dee), Patrick Dempsey (Naomi), Kristen Gerring (Robert) and Katherine Walton (Stephen). He also took great joy in their children, Karissa and Fiona Dempsey, Thomas and Charlotte Gerring and Matthew and Emily Walton. His sister, Belinda Johnson, predeceased JD in 2002. A Memorial Service for JD will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, February 24, 2018 at QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL, CREMATION & EVENT CENTER, West Palm Beach.

Published in The Palm Beach Post on Feb. 22, 2018