James Joseph Dembeck

James J. Dembeck, 95, a resident of Charlestown in Catonsville, passed away on May 15, 2020. He was born on January 1, 1925. Jim was the loving spouse of Pat for 72 years. He was the devoted father of Geralynn (John) Smyth, Mary Beth (Gary) Shaffer, Mark (Amy) Dembeck, Judi (Michael) Imlay, and Greg (Susan) Dembeck.

A native of Baltimore City, Jim attended Patterson Park High School. At the request of his parents, he dropped out of high school after the 10th grade so that he could work and help pay bills. He went to work on the family farm in Glen Burnie. Education, however, was so important to Jim, that he worked on the farm by day, and attended night school at the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, eventually earning his General Education Diploma in 1947. He went on to graduate from Maryland Institute and the University of Baltimore, School of Law (J.D. 1954).

Jim worked as the Zoning Administrator of Baltimore City where he was responsible for rewriting and enforcing the antiquated zoning codes for the city in the 1960s. In 1971, he was appointed Director of the Zoning Commission, where he directed the comprehensive zoning ordinance for Baltimore City which was enacted on April 20, 1971. He worked directly with the Zoning Commission President and the members of the City Council, city agencies, and numerous interest groups and individuals on all matters related to the enactment of the city-wide Zoning Ordinance. He played an instrumental role in the 1980s Inner Harbor project and served as Director until his retirement in 1987.

Jim retired to Ocean City, Maryland where he lived with Pat for 26 years, before moving back to the Baltimore area and eventually into Charlestown in 2015. He loved the OC boardwalk, crabbing, gardening, playing golf, coaching his children’s sports teams, and attending their many games. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was proud of becoming a fourth-degree Knight.

In addition to his wife and children, Jim is survived by 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the University of Baltimore, School of Law.