Patrick L. Dempsey

Deacon Patrick Lee Dempsey, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2025 at the age of 73 years. Beloved husband for 48 years to Nancy M. Dempsey. Father of Robert Patrick Dempsey. Brother of Margaret D. Cornell (Bruce). Uncle of Doug Cornell, James Cornell and their children along with numerous cousins in upstate New York.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert M. Dempsey and Joyce Green.

Pat was born 1951 in Greenwood, NY and graduated as Salutatorian from Greenwood High School in 1969. He earned a scholarship to play soccer in college and graduated with Honors with a Bachelors of History from St. Bonaventure University in 1973. He joined the United States Air Force in 1973 where he started his service in the Missiles Division at Minot Air Force Base located in North Dakota before transferring in 1975 to The Office of Special Investigations located at March Air Force Base in California. In 1976 he met his wife Nancy who was stationed at March working as a nurse. They were married on June 6th 1976 and remained so until his passing. In 1978, they moved to Rochester, NY where he served as a Federal Agent for the Defense Investigative Service, finding the branch of government that he would serve until his retirement. In1982, they adopted their only child, Robert Patrick Dempsey, and named him after his father that passed away when he was 11. In 1982, this marked the beginning of 3 moves in 3 years starting with Key West, FL followed by a move in 1983 to Washington D.C to serve as Special Assistant to the Director of D.I.S. while being part of the team that wrote the official handbook for the agency, and finally, in 1985, they moved to New Orleans, LA to accept his promotion to Federal Agent in Charge of Louisiana and Mississippi territories which he served until his retirement in 2000.

Deacon Pat was a lifelong Catholic that received his calling to serve while on retreat at Manresa in 1999. That calling changed his passions, and his need to give back became his driving force. In 2000, he entered formation for the Diaconate and was ordained 6 years later in June of 2006 by Archbishop Alfred Hughes. Deacon Pat was a 40 year member of St. Cletus parish where he served as a Lector, Eucharistic minister, CCD teacher, and a Knight of Columbus before becoming ordained. He was fortunately assigned to St. Cletus in 2006 and has served as its acting Deacon since then, 18 years as a Deacon. Deacon Pat served plenty of baptisms, confirmations, graduations, first communions, homilies, weddings, and funerals. He served as a co-director of Stella Maris (Seafarers Ministry), ministered and provided services for multiple nursing homes, brought communion and visited the sick at home, and served the Marriage and Family Life Office in the marriage annulment process. In 2008, Pat returned to work as a consultant for Homeland Security and ran investigations until 2019. Pat had a gap tooth grin, quick wit and an infectious laugh. He enjoyed early morning workouts with his gym buddies. He was a Saints ticket holder loved LSU woman’s basketball and was a Yankee baseball fan. He coached his son at Oakdale playground.

His idea of a good book was a Winston Churchill biography. He also enjoyed an occasional cigar and daily glass of Merlot.

Visitation will be held at his second home, St. Cletus Catholic Church, 3600 Claire Avenue, Gretna, LA on Thursday, June 5, 2025 from 4 PM to 6:30 PM, followed by a Vigil Service and Air Force honors.

Visitation will resume at the Church on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM, followed by Mass. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery on the grounds of St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St Cletus Church, the Abbey or charity of choice.