Frank P. Dempsey

Published in the Star-Ledger from 11/14/2008 - 11/15/2008

Newark police detective, WWII Navy veteran, 88 Frank P. Dempsey, 88, of Maplewood, formerly of Vailsburg, died on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, in Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect St., South Orange, on Monday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 a.m. Interment is in Hollywood Memorial Park, Union. Visitation will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

For more information or to send condolences, please visit jacobholle funeralhome.com.

Born in Newark, Mr. Dempsey lived in Vailsburg before moving to Maplewood 21 years ago. He worked for the Newark Police Department from 1947 to 1986 as a detective in the Youth Aid Bureau.

Mr. Dempsey was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization prior to World War II Navy deployment. He served as a gunner's mate 2nd class, and was a recipient of two Bronze Stars, one in the Asiatic-Pacific area and the other in the European-African-Middle Eastern area. He was a member of the Newark PBA Local 3, VFW Post 1439, Maplewood, and the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, West Orange.

He was a man of great strength and character, an avid sports fan, and had a beautiful Irish tenor voice.

What brought him the most joy in life was spending time with his family, who loved him dearly. Mr. Dempsey was the beloved husband of the late June Spratt Dempsey; devoted father of Karen Astorino and her husband, Gary; loving grandfather of Jennifer Bozzo and Justin Astorino; dear great-grandfather of Gregory and Ellie June Bozzo.

Donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Memorial Program, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301.