Voices of Giving: Joseph Michael and Joan Dempsey

Nominated by: The Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West

Mike Dempsey has been involved with the Athenaeum since 1964. He is a graduate of St. Gregory’s High School Seminary and holds his bachelor’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.

Mike and his wife, Joan, have supported the Athenaeum since 1993 and have been active in countless leadership, advisory, volunteer, and fundraising roles for the past two decades.

During the last capital campaign “Preserving Our Legacy, Investing in our Future,” Mike and Joan chose to reach far beyond their annual leadership giving commitment to remember the Athenaeum with a significant legacy gift of life insurance.

The Dempsey’s very generous planned gift will establish a scholarship for seminarian education in honor of Mike’s education at the Athenaeum. Mike and Joan wished to provide others with the same education and faith formation that Mike himself received -- an education which Mike credits for helping him attain his life achievements.

When a young man is accepted as a seminarian, his graduate degree is provided at no cost upon ordination. Endowed scholarships, like the one established by Mike and Joan, are crucial to the Athenaeum’s ability to provide an excellent education, in perpetuity, to worthy and dedicated seminarians.

Mike and Joan Dempsey are inspirational examples of individuals who live their faith. Their dedication to the Athenaeum’s mission of preparing priests, deacons, and lay ministers to serve the Church is a priceless gift.
For the Dempsey’s tireless dedication and great generosity, the Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West feel eternally blessed and are eternally grateful.