DEMPSEY, William F. Of Dover, formerly of Houghs Neck, Quincy, Norwell, and Wrentham, May 8, 2022. Devoted father of Jackie “Jane” Norton and her husband Chip of Dover, Deborah Brown and her husband Bill of North Falmouth, Betsy Ferreira and her husband Leonard of Middleton, Paula Mulherin and her husband Ed of Scituate, Amy Loughran and her husband Paul of Morrisville, VT, William Dempsey Jr. and his wife Tricia of Smithfield, VA, and Terence Dempsey and his wife Laura of NH. Also survived by 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Bill was a World War II Veteran, U.S. Navy and member of the Abington VFW. In his younger years Bill was an exceptional athlete and excelled in many sports, but it was baseball that he loved the most, even earning a tryout with his beloved Red Sox at one point. But, as it sometimes happens, life got in the way and that had to be put on hold. Once Bill started his family, the love of sports remained but that soon evolved from being a participant to just a spectator, whether on TV or the sidelines at his kids’ games as the responsibilities of being a father and later a grandfather, became his new and most cherished pastime. He loved nothing more than spending time with the people that called him Dad, Grampy, Gramps, Uncle Bill, Billy or Mr. Demps. He would always have time for a story, a joke, a game of cribbage, cheese and crackers or just a hug as you would pass and if the Sox were on and you happened to stick around to watch it with him; Then that was his perfect day.
Visiting hours will be held at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., (Rt.16) Wellesley on Tuesday, May 17 from 4-8pm. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Wednesday, May 18 at 9am followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Paul’s Church, Wellesley at 10am. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Interment in Mount Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Melanoma Research Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02215 or www.dana-farber.org/gift.