William Edward Dempsey

White River Junction, VT - William Edward Dempsey, 89, died Sunday, September 18, 2016 at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in White River Junction.

Bill was born September 8, 1927 in Unionville, VA, the son of Silas Howard and Eunice Emerle (Hughes) Dempsey. He grew up in Washington, DC, and spent his summers on the family farm in Rhoadesville, VA. He entered the Navy in November of 1944, and served honorably until his discharge in 1946. He continued his service as a member of the DC National Guard. Bill was married to the love of his life, Patricia Ann Quigley on October 2, 1948, in Washington, DC.

Bill received an AA degree in Business and Public Administration from Temple University. He had completed coursework toward a Bachelor of Laws at American University when family responsibilities led him to turn his attention to business full time.

Bill had an entrepreneurial spirit, and was an accomplished salesman and sales manager. He worked for Control Data, rising through the ranks in management for their forms and magnetic media divisions. He went on to be the founder of Royal Asset Management, providing appraisal and liquidation services to asset based lenders, later joining forces with a major accounting firm.

Bill was a passionate golfer. He was a longtime member of Prince George's Country Club in Cheverly, MD, a founding member of Tournament Players Club at Avenel in Potomac, MD, a volunteer and committee chairman with the Kemper Open golf tournament and its later iterations (which in 2005 honored him as Volunteer of the Year), and over the last several years he was the chairman emeritus for the AT&T and Quicken Loans National tournaments. He enjoyed playing many famous courses over the years, including historic courses in Scotland and Ireland.

An avid fan of the Washington area sports teams such as the Redskins, Senators, and Nationals, Bill also enjoyed thoroughbred horse racing and staying fit. He had a passion for politics and history; the arts, especially opera; fine food, and wine. He loved the company of his dogs and friends, and was known for bringing people together for crab feasts, fireworks parties, or for his famous clam chowder at his beloved Rhode River home. Fiercely proud of his Irish heritage and devoted to his family, Bill's role as patriarch of the Dempseys was extremely important to him.

Bill is predeceased by a son William Richard "Rick"; two brothers, Charles and Calvin; and a sister, Marie Dempsey Seaman.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years Patricia Dempsey; children John Charles Dempsey and his wife Linda Kaljee, Carole Ann Dempsey and her husband Jon Olsen; five grandchildren, Margaret Dempsey, Mary Dempsey, Woody Olsen, Richard Olsen, and Annie Olsen; great-grandchild Caelan Danbury; and many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 215 North Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05009 or the SPCA of Anne Arundel County 1815 Bay Ridge Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403.