John Dempsey, age 78, husband of the late Jan Dempsey of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, passed away Sept. 21, 2026.
John was born May 19, 1948, in Manhattan. He was raised on the Jersey Shore, where he spent his glory days as a lifeguard. He was an award-winning cross-country runner and the Red Bank Catholic Prom King.
John was the son of the late Francis Earl and Mary Mahoney Dempsey.
He is survived by his daughter, Kelly Dempsey; nine siblings: Brian Dempsey, Mary Moore, Elaine McBride, Gail Coakley, Kevin Dempsey, Mark Dempsey, Peter Dempsey, Kelly Dempsey and Theresa Manning; and many nieces and nephews.
John was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as an air traffic controller on the USS Intrepid. He was an avid photographer and enjoyed spending time outside with his dog, Mocha. He thrived on long walks around the pond and had a heart of gold.
John was extremely social and made friends with everybody he met. He loved Ohio State football and could discuss college sports for hours.
John also loved crumb cakes, coffee and all sweet treats. He dedicated lots of time to cultivating a deck full of beautiful plants and took pride in maintaining his outdoor sanctuary.
John will be dearly missed by friends and family around the world.
Cremation Services Direct of Myrtle Beach is assisting the family with arrangements.
The article originally appeared in the October 1 – 7, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
