Bernard “Bern” Shanley Dempsey, Sr., died peacefully December 13, 2021, at the Country House in Wilmington at the age of 92. Bern was born in Newark, NJ to William Lawrence Dempsey Sr. and Mary Shanley Dempsey and was raised in Chestnut Hill, PA with older brother William “Bill” Lawrence Dempsey, Jr., and younger sisters Mary Catherine “Cadie” Dempsey Vos and Elizabeth “Hunsie” Dempsey Loomis. Bern graduated from the Hill School, Pottstown, PA in 1946, Princeton University in 1950 and University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1953. He was in the Navy during the Korean War.
He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Patricia Forbes Dempsey in 2019. He is survived by their three children: Elisabeth D. Keller (Michael), Margaret D. Frey, and Bernard S. Dempsey, Jr. (Karen). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Shanley Hill (Stewart), Gillian Auger (Gregory), Kyle Keller (Courtney), William Frey, Alexandra Keller, Jaymes Pollens-Dempsey (Gemma), Jonah Pollens-Dempsey, Micah Pollens-Dempsey, Shoshana Pollens-Dempsey, and Ellyannah Pollens-Dempsey, and 4 great-grandchildren, Greyson and Pearce Hill, Theodore Keller and Amelia Auger.
Bern was truly a gentle man. Besides being a devoted husband and father, Bern was an attorney and for most of his career he was Secretary & General Counsel to Continental American Life Insurance which later merged with Provident Mutual in Wilmington and Christiana, Delaware. He volunteered his time profusely. He was on the Committee of 39, Windybush Homeowners Association, and developed a baseball little league in 1968 where he coached and was the Commissioner for 20+ years. His legal passion showed as he volunteered at the Delaware Law School and received the Delaware Pro Bono Award at a ceremony at the White House.
His love of nature and the environment led him to the Delaware Nature Center where he was president for many years. The seashore brought Bern and his family to Cape May Point where they spent many summers before building a beach house with the Walker family. Entertaining abounded in Pat and Bern’s house parties in Cape May, Christmas caroling and dinner parties in Windybush, and cocktail parties at the Country House. He took classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Delaware, Wilmington, including Latin, yoga, President Hamilton, and was teacher’s pet at Pat’s memoir writing class. He loved to watch his Philadelphia sports teams even during their “building years” as he called them.
Bern and Pat had a love of traveling with family and friends. They traveled all over the world and Bern loved to photograph their trips. They took their children and grandchildren on many adventures. His bridge groups were enjoyed and companionship with his friends continued through the years. Bern was a lover of newspapers (up to 4 a day) and he and Pat always had a crossword puzzle in process.
The family wishes to thank Lorraine Valente, the staff at The Country House and ACTS Hospice for the generous care provided to both Pat and Bern. A memorial service will be held at a later date due to Covid. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Bern’s honor can be sent to Delaware Nature Center, 3511 Barley Mill Rd, Hockessin, Delaware 19707.
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