Former Cliffwood Elementary School Principal Dies at 87

Martin J. Dempsey, 87, of Matawan, passed away Tuesday April 9, 2013 at Stamford Hospital in Stamford, CT. He was born in Scranton, PA and resided in Matawan for the past 56 years. He was a graduate of the University of Scranton and earned his Masters in Education from Rutgers University. He was a teacher and elementary school principal for over 30 years in the Matawan School District and spend most of his years with Cliffwood Elementary School. He a was a devoted family man, a parishioner of St. Clements Church and will be missed by all who knew him. He was a volunteer fireman and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Martin was a horse racing enthusiast and would enjoy spending time at the Freehold Raceway.

He was predeceased by his parents James and Eva Dempsey, and 2 brothers James and Bernard Dempsey. He leaves behind his wife of 57 years Gert Dempsey, 6 sons and 4 daughters-in-law Dan and Maria Dempsey, Marty and Tracy Dempsey, Jim and Zeny Dempsey, Tim Dempsey, Tom and Loren Dempsey, and Michael Dempsey, and 9 grandchildren Kayla, Kelsey, Ryan, Brenden, Aidan, Peter, Tyler, Jackson, and Shannon Dempsey. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday April 11, 2013 from 4pm - 9pm at the Waitt Funeral Home, 501 Highway 79, Morganville, NJ 07751 and on Friday April 12, 2013 from 4pm - 7pm at the Hudak-O'Shea Funeral Home, 115 Garfield Ave Olyphant, PA 18447. A funeral mass will take place on Saturday April 13, 2013 at 9:30am at Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church, followed by interment in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Blakely. Donations can be made in the name of Martin J. Dempsey and sent to the Holy Cross Parishes Youth Group Ministry, 200 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, PA 18447.