After graduating from the old Cathedral Latin School in Cleveland, Ohio, Bro. Jack entered the Society of Mary as a Marianist Novitiate in Marcy, New York. He professed first vows in 1962 and perpetual vows in 1967. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, in English and Theology, and a master’s degree in counselor education from Western Michigan University in 1971. From 1966-2010, he served in Marianist high schools in Cleveland, Hollywood, Florida, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, primarily in counseling and guidance services. In 2000, Bro. Dempsey was a Diocese of Pittsburgh Golden Apple Awardee and received a Certificate of Achievement which was “in recognition for outstanding teaching and service to the Church and community.” Summer activities took him to Marianist St. Laurence College in Dublin, Ireland to teach English as a Second Language to visiting Marianist high school Spanish students. He also served at the Marianist sponsored St. John’s Boys Home, Rockaway Park, Queens, New York where he direct the old Neighborhood Youth Corps. In the summer of 2006, he wrote a history honoring the Marianists’ educational legacy of service for 150 years in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Bro. Jack, who previously participated in the work of the Pittsburgh Diocesan Pastoral Council under the leadership of Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, said he appreciated the conversation he had with Bishop Wilkerson learning how inclusive the pastoral council seems to work in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.