RICHARD E. DEMPSEY, JR., LT, USN

Richard Dempsey, Jr. '82

Date of birth: August 13, 1959

Date of death: January 27, 1989

Age: 29

Lucky Bag

From the 1982 Lucky Bag:

RICHARD E. DEMPSEY, JR.

Monterey, California

Rags

R.E.D. Jr. came to Annapolis from Monterey, California, San Diego, California, and Clearwater, Florida. Must be the neighbors, huh? As a Plebe, Rags was very conscious of his subordinate position. Therefore, he was only caught once in civilian clothes… after taps… in a bar… drinking beer. Rick's performance as a band member brought him a groupie from 3-0. Mr. Regular had no problems in dealing with superiors. Just ask the Firsties who saw him on 80th Night… in civilian clothes… with a (gasp!) girl.

Then, Second Class year, he met Tina, a real flash-in-the-pants romance. And then there was Miss Glen Burnie, who really appreciated his roommate's artistic talents, as did her father. First Class year saw Demps take a more professional stand — Engineering watch in Luce Hall … at night … alone … on watch?

But seriously folks, we wish Rick the best of luck as he goes Surface Line. His enthusiasm is surpassed only by that of Horatio Hornblower. As a parting though, Rick, may you never miss with your harpoon.

RICHARD E. DEMPSEY, JR.

Monterey, California

Rags

R.E.D. Jr. came to Annapolis from Monterey, California, San Diego, California, and Clearwater, Florida. Must be the neighbors, huh? As a Plebe, Rags was very conscious of his subordinate position. Therefore, he was only caught once in civilian clothes… after taps… in a bar… drinking beer. Rick's performance as a band member brought him a groupie from 3-0. Mr. Regular had no problems in dealing with superiors. Just ask the Firsties who saw him on 80th Night… in civilian clothes… with a (gasp!) girl.

Then, Second Class year, he met Tina, a real flash-in-the-pants romance. And then there was Miss Glen Burnie, who really appreciated his roommate's artistic talents, as did her father. First Class year saw Demps take a more professional stand — Engineering watch in Luce Hall … at night … alone … on watch?

But seriously folks, we wish Rick the best of luck as he goes Surface Line. His enthusiasm is surpassed only by that of Horatio Hornblower. As a parting though, Rick, may you never miss with your harpoon.

Loss

Richard was lost on January 27, 1989 when the F-14 Tomcat he was aboard crashed in the Arizona desert. Richard was the radar intercept officer; the pilot was also killed. They were flying from San Diego to New Orleans. Oxygen deprivation may have contributed to the crash.

They were members of Fighter Squadron (VF) 114.

Obituary

From the Times-Advocate of Escondido, California on February 1, 1989:

Lt. Richard Dempsey Jr., was a Navy flier and father of two young girls. His wife, Susan, says it’s hard to say of which he was prouder.
“His flying and his girls were his life”, she said.
Dempsey’s short but successful life ended Friday, when the Navy F-14 Jet he was flying in crashed in a cotton field in Eloy, Ariz. A resident of San Diego, he was 29.
A memorial service will be held 9 a.m. Thursday at the Miramar Naval Air Station chapel. Chaplain David Heitschmidt will officiate.
A 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Dempsey was radar-intercept officer in the F-14 that crashed on an instrument training flight with another jet from San Diego to New Orleans. The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash, which also killed the pilot of Dempsey’s jet.
Dempsey, a native of Monterey, accomplished a great deal in a short time, said Susan, a 10-year Escondido resident whose parents also live here.
The son of Navy Commander Richard Dempsey and his wife, Shirley, of Oxnard, the younger Dempsey was one of few to earn both the Surface Warfare Office qualification and Wings of Gold, which he received after completing flight training in 1986 at the Naval Fight Officer school in Pensacola, Fla.
Rick was raised in a Navy family and grew to love the Navy, his father said. Rick's dedication to the nation, the Navy, his fellow officers and enlisted men will long be remembered.
He is survived by his wife, Susan; daughters Ashley, 3, and Katelynn, 15 months; his parents; a sister, Sheryl Lyn Flath of Watsonville; and a grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Barnes of Florida.
He also is survived by his mother and father-in-law, retired LCDR Edward Griggs and his wife, Marlene, of Escondido.

Other Information

From researcher Kathy Franz:

Richard graduated from Monterrey High School in 1977. “Rick” . . . known for fantastic oneliners in Ms. Rial’s C.P. English class . . . likes rabbit stew, hot showers, and leather . . . dislikes vanilla on a plain cone. . . greatest accomplishment so far is learning how to put on shoes and socks . . . future plans include not putting them on in that order. Football 10; Track 10; Jazz Band (trombone.)

Richard is buried in California.