Christian radio host Rob Dempsey of the South Carolina show Rob and Lizz in the Morning passed away on October 23. The news was confirmed on-air the following day, by the Greenville, S.C., Christian radio station.
Dempsey succumbed to stage 3 bladder cancer, and he is survived by his wife Amy and four children: Wes (Brittany), Amanda (Brad), Spencer (Grace), Elijah, and two grandchildren, Jackson and Grace. In speaking about his diagnosis on Facebook, he said on October 15,
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"A big thank you to all who have been praying for me. I saw the report today. I have bladder cancer and it looks aggressive. I haven’t seen the doctor yet. But, now a days the report comes to My Chart fast. So, this is what I’m reading."
Rob Dempsey says his wife was a "rock" for him in battling stage 3 bladder cancer
Not much is known about Rob Dempsey's wife, Amy, except that she was instrumental in Dempsey's battle with cancer. In the same post from October 15, when he announced his condition, he thanked his wife for everything:
"The days ahead will be tough and that’s ok. I am determined to be a dad there for his kids. I’m determined to be that grandpa who will watch them grow up, graduate and get married. I want to grow old with my wife who has been a rock through all of this junk."
Furthermore, according to Rob Dempsey's bio on the station website, he and his wife were proud adoptive and foster parents to the following:
"A 38 year old war hero, 27 year old Social Media Marketing Director, 22 year college graduate who just got married, and an 15 year old whom they adopted November '09. Plus, many foster children through their home for over 9 years."
One of their children, son Spencer Dempsey, took to Facebook on October 24 to post a tribute to his dad:
"Thank you for all those reaching out and all of the kind words for my father today. He was a great man, and I’m proud to call him my Dad... Today I’m brokenhearted, yet hopeful of this promise. He’s whole, he’s healthy, and he’s dancing with his Saviour. Everything he did was aimed at bringing God glory, and only God knows how many lives he’s touched. I love you dad, I’ll see you soon. Well done."
Rob Dempsey had come a long way from being a homeless teen, The Joy FM reveals
Georgia's The Joy FM also uploaded a touching tribute for the departed, noting that "hundreds of thousands of people who’ve been impacted by listening to Rob, are heartbroken by this loss. We will all miss him more than words can say." The post read,
"Rob had more than just a talent for radio. He had a passion for pointing people to Jesus. He shared his faith on air and through every aspect of his life. He was a leader, mentor, encourager, worship leader, innovator, problem-solver, husband, father, brother, and friend. He used his life story to share his faith in God. He loved Christian radio because he was transformed by it. He went from being a homeless teen to finding a new life in Christ through a broken radio found in a dumpster."
The statement continued, reflecting on what Rob Dempsey was like as a person:
"He used his experiences - weight loss, competitive cycling, running, health challenges, being a foster family, and adoption - to give Glory to God. He reminded us often that “God is good!” and “Jesus is real.” We can’t begin to count the number of people who have been impacted and changed as a result of his steadfast faithfulness."
Tributes have been pouring in all day long on Rob Dempsey's Instagram and Facebook channels, with many pointing out that his departure has now left a void.
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