Patrick J. Dempsey Memorial Scholarship
The Gifts:
Four $2,500 Patrick J. Dempsey Memorial Scholarships have been established to celebrate family-owned restaurant and hospitality businesses and their positive impact on local communities and the U.S. economy.
Sponsor’s Origin Story:
Dempsey Uniform & Linen Supply, an independent uniform and linen supplier, is a family business founded in 1959 by brothers Patrick and Richard Dempsey. The company began as an outgrowth of their father’s towel and coverall supply business, established 36 years earlier. Today, Patrick’s son, PJ, and his daughter, Kristin, head up the organization. Dempsey services six states in the Mid-Atlantic region, providing uniform rentals, restaurant linens, towel service, and a range of other offerings. Building on our reputation for excellence, we leverage leading-edge technologies to help customers control costs and improve their service experience. Dempsey’s commercial laundry facilities have earned numerous accolades and accreditations including TRSA Hygienically Clean Food Service Certification and TRSA Clean Green® Certification. By reducing the direct and indirect environmental impact of our company through leadership by example, reuse of textiles, and conservation of resources, Dempsey has emerged as a leader in sustainability, both in the textile rental industry and our local community.
Pat Dempsey started his business in Dunmore, PA:
Born in Scranton, PA, in 1933, Pat was the second of four sons. He earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University, where he was president of the Beta Epsilon chapter of Alpha Sigma Phi Social Fraternity. In 1966, he received his MBA from the University of Scranton. Pat served in the U.S. Army, stationed at the Redstone and Frankford Arsenals. In October 1958, Pat and his brother, Dick, began constructing Dempsey Linen Supply on Clay Avenue in Dunmore, PA, and opened for business in 1959 with one delivery route and four employees. Pat served on the Board of Directors of the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA), was Chairman of the Board of CSC (a national network of independent laundries), and was a founding member of the National Management Bureau. Pat believed “no one has a lock on knowledge”, toured 150+ plants worldwide, and shared what he learned. In 2011, he received the TRSA Lifetime Achievement Award. An Irish storyteller and oral historian, Pat loved sharing Dunmore history and knew the story of family laundries across America. His stories often taught lessons to family members or employees who had the patience and sense to listen. An avid foodie always looking for an excuse to dine out, Pat found that visiting customers gave him the perfect opportunity. This Scholarship is a tribute to his unwavering support of the restaurant industry.
The Dunmore/CIA Connection:
• The Dempsey family would like to recognize Cara and Chris Lowe of Cara Mia’s Delicatessen & Pizzeria in Dunmore, PA, just a short drive north of Dempsey’s Corporate Office in Jessup. Northeast PA native Cara Mia Ianelli Lowe met her husband Chris while they both attended the Culinary Institute of America. After returning to NEPA, the two opened their business. For 25+ years, their family has combined traditional family recipes with original creations, seasonal offerings, and gourmet sandwiches named after streets in Dunmore. Kristin Dempsey, Vice President, says, “My favorite is named after a street in my childhood neighborhood, the Shirley Lane.”
• The Dempsey family has fond memories of the late Albert and Bernadine Sibio who, in 1974, opened Sibio’s Restaurant in Dunmore. As the restaurant got started, Bernadine worked at Dempsey in the morning and at the restaurant at night. Over the years, Albert and Bernadine’s three sons joined the business and, to ready themselves to carry on their parents’ legacy, two attended the Culinary Institute of America.