Obituary for Stephen Ross Dempsey
Stephen “Ross” Dempsey passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 3rd, 2023.
He was born to Helen Cassidy Dempsey and Stephen Ross Dempsey, Sr. in Queens Village, NY on May 7, 1927. He spent his childhood in Queens until the age of 13 when his family moved to Wilmington.
On his 17th birthday, Ross enlisted in the Navy for WWII. After the war, he graduated from West Nottingham Academy in Maryland. At the University of Delaware, he was a talented fullback and punter for the Blue Hens freshman squad.
Ross married Mary Lynch of Centreville, Delaware in October 1950. They were married for over 72 years and raised seven children on 14th street in the Trolley Square area.
Ross joined the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #19 where he was Financial Secretary for many years. He worked on many large buildings in Wilmington including the roof of Rockford Tower. Ross was a union man through and through.
Ross served as a football referee for over 30 years in New Castle County, officiating many big games at the old Baynard stadium, the Blue Gold games and college football. He was also a successful boxer in the US Navy, and various places in the Wilmington area.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Patrick; his sisters, Sr. Espiritu Dempsey, IHM, and Barbara Dempsey Baccino, her husband, Joseph, and their son, Joe; and his son-in-law, Jim Black.
Ross is survived by his wife, Mary Lynch Dempsey; sons, Michael, Tim and Steve (Kathleen); daughters, Kathleen, Barbara Garcia (Hector), and Mary Frances Becker (Bob); 12 grandchildren, Rory Woon-Sue, Deirdre Lego (Charlie), Colin Woon-Sue, David & Andy Garcia, Timothy, Kyle & Patrick Dempsey, Ross & Jack Dempsey, and Ryan & Cassidy Becker; 3 great-grandchildren, Liam, Aiden & Cara Lego. He is also survived by his nephew, Dan Baccino (Peggy) and his niece, Joan Ellen Baccino.
Services will be held at St Joseph’s on the Brandywine, 10 Old Church Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19807, on Monday, June 12, 2023. Visitation will begin at 9:30am, followed by a Mass at10:30 am. If you would like to consider a donation to The Ministry of Caring, please visit the link, https://www.ministryofcaring.org/.
He was born to Helen Cassidy Dempsey and Stephen Ross Dempsey, Sr. in Queens Village, NY on May 7, 1927. He spent his childhood in Queens until the age of 13 when his family moved to Wilmington.
On his 17th birthday, Ross enlisted in the Navy for WWII. After the war, he graduated from West Nottingham Academy in Maryland. At the University of Delaware, he was a talented fullback and punter for the Blue Hens freshman squad.
Ross married Mary Lynch of Centreville, Delaware in October 1950. They were married for over 72 years and raised seven children on 14th street in the Trolley Square area.
Ross joined the Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #19 where he was Financial Secretary for many years. He worked on many large buildings in Wilmington including the roof of Rockford Tower. Ross was a union man through and through.
Ross served as a football referee for over 30 years in New Castle County, officiating many big games at the old Baynard stadium, the Blue Gold games and college football. He was also a successful boxer in the US Navy, and various places in the Wilmington area.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Patrick; his sisters, Sr. Espiritu Dempsey, IHM, and Barbara Dempsey Baccino, her husband, Joseph, and their son, Joe; and his son-in-law, Jim Black.
Ross is survived by his wife, Mary Lynch Dempsey; sons, Michael, Tim and Steve (Kathleen); daughters, Kathleen, Barbara Garcia (Hector), and Mary Frances Becker (Bob); 12 grandchildren, Rory Woon-Sue, Deirdre Lego (Charlie), Colin Woon-Sue, David & Andy Garcia, Timothy, Kyle & Patrick Dempsey, Ross & Jack Dempsey, and Ryan & Cassidy Becker; 3 great-grandchildren, Liam, Aiden & Cara Lego. He is also survived by his nephew, Dan Baccino (Peggy) and his niece, Joan Ellen Baccino.
Services will be held at St Joseph’s on the Brandywine, 10 Old Church Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 19807, on Monday, June 12, 2023. Visitation will begin at 9:30am, followed by a Mass at10:30 am. If you would like to consider a donation to The Ministry of Caring, please visit the link, https://www.ministryofcaring.org/.