Father Richard Joseph Dempsey, 83, died Feb. 4 in Bonita Springs, Florida, where he was retired. Father Dempsey was pastor emeritus of Most Holy Redeemer Parish, Evergreen Park.

Father Dick Dempsey, as he was known, was born in Chicago and attended St. Christina and St. Cajetan schools, Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary before being ordained in 1958.

Father Dempsey was assistant pastor at Our Lady of Grace (1958- 1965); St. Sebastian (1965-1966); Holy Family, North Chicago (1969-1980); and St. Victor, Calumet City (1989-1991).

During this time, he served as chaplain of the Area 7 Catholic Youth Organization and Kelvyn Park High School (1960- 1964). In 1966, Father Dempsey was commissioned as a Navy chaplain. His tours of duty included Vietnam; Okinawa; the Philippines; the USS Constellation aircraft carrier; San Diego and Monterey, California; and the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.

In 1991, he was named pastor of Most Holy Redeemer Parish in Evergreen Park, until his retirement in 2003.

Father Dempsey is survived by his brothers, Msgr. Thomas Dempsey of the Rockford Diocese and Donald Dempsey, and his sisters Deanne O’Toole, Sally Dempsey, Kathleen Moyer and Dominican Sister Dorothy Dempsey.