Walter J. Dempsey Returns to Norwood Board of Selectmen Following Compelling Electoral Victory-October 25, 1976

Veteran Politician Walter J. Dempsey Rebounds from Defeats to Win Selectman Seat

Following back-to-back electoral defeats in 1974 and 1975, veteran Norwood politician Walter J. Dempsey proved his political resilience by capturing a decisive victory in the October 5 selectman’s election. Reflecting on his return to public office, Dempsey admitted he had initially misjudged his own standing, predicting a second-place finish behind Paul R. Angelo rather than first.

Dempsey, whose extensive public service dates back to 1947 when he became the 46th selectman in Norwood’s history, received the news while traveling in London before the polls closed from his close friend, Finance Commissioner George T. Mahoney. “When Mahoney told me I won, I was amazed,” Dempsey recalled. “Then I felt it was a dream and I’d awake and it’d be a lie.”

Drawing 35 percent voter turnout in a strong showing, Dempsey dismissed rumors of a formidable opposition “machine,” noting that his 2-1 election margin proved the Angelo family’s support network was more “phantom than real.” To secure victory, Dempsey waged an active, personal campaign—spending roughly $1,200 out of his own pocket to mail a personalized letter and photo to nearly every voter from the January election, answering supporters who urged him to take action.

Active Agenda and Police Department Oversight

At age 61, Dempsey returned to municipal governance with renewed vigor. His legislative and civic priorities include:

• Norwood Arena and Regional Development: Pushing for concerted town action to develop the Norwood Arena and surrounding industrial land, coordinated with laying a new connecting road between Route 1 and Route I-95 alongside passive recreational spaces along the Neponset River banks.
• Public Safety Initiatives: Advocating for mandatory smoke sensors in all existing Norwood homes, rather than solely in new construction—a proposal he referred to a panel of fire safety experts.
• Police Department Morale: Addressing internal police matters carefully, stating, “My attitude is take what you get and make the best of it… I don’t go looking for trouble. The last thing needed is a mixture of police and politics.”

Life at “Lorelei” and Resilience After Health Challenges

Despite suffering a heart attack in April 1968, Dempsey maintained his zest for life, public service, and colorful tailoring. When building his distinctive home off Prospect Street, Dempsey instructed his architect, “This is my living room. Wrap a house around it and pitch it towards the Blue Hills.” The resulting residence, christened Lorelei after the legendary Rhine River mountain—marked by bold black letters on whitewashed driveway rocks—perches dramatically on a ledge outcropping with panoramic views.

While he has scaled back certain athletics—quipping that he laid off tennis and skiing following electrocardiogram results nearly three winters ago—Dempsey remains fully engaged in town affairs, keeping his signature Rolls Royce shined and his license plate reading “I CARE 2” ready for future municipal service.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger