Coming Full Circle In Chatham, Carolyn Dempsey On Music And More

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham Borough’s Council President Carolyn Dempsey lived what she called “her other life” before getting married, starting a family and settling down in Chatham.

It wasn’t a direct stop to Chatham, but her journey began after leaving Nebraska for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., where she majored in Russian Studies and Spanish.

While in college, she worked for a congressman, then the CIA took an interest in having Dempsey work for them, she told Patch; and she started the intense and year-long process, with a series of interviews, tests and background checks.

Learning as a young woman in her early 20s that there could be a two-decade commitment within the CIA wasn’t something that appealed to Demsey at that time in her life. After William and Mary, she did what she described as a “180-degree turn,” by applying to a theater school in New York City.

It was in New York that Dempsey, who sings and plays guitar, embarked on a decade-long career in theater. She also did some television work, with a small part on the series, “All My Children.” While in New York, her day job entailed teaching children’s music lessons.

Once she became a mother, she left her work in theater, knowing the challenges that type of a career can have on a family with young children.

Little did she know though, each of these early steps on her life path, would come full circle in Chatham.

“We’ve been so blessed to call Chatham home for the last 20 years,” Dempsey said.

As part of that blessing, she sees herself giving back to her community, through her service on the council, with her volunteerism and sharing her musical gifts with residents in the Chathams.

While Dempsey does teach music at Music Together of Summit and Chatham, she has also taught once monthly at the Library of the Chathams on Thursdays, for a special music program for preschoolers and caregivers, sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Her first in-person “Music with Carolyn Dempsey” event since the pandemic start - her last in-person one on March 12, 2020 - will be held on Thursday, July 8, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. on the library’s lawn at 214 Main Street.

No pre-registration is needed, with the event limited to 50 people if there’s inclement weather.

During the pandemic, she pre-recorded her performances, which the library re-broadcast.

Dempsey’s library events teach preschoolers some rhythm basics through folk music, foreign language songs - usually Spanish - and more.

“Music is an opportunity to spread joy and it’s a way that children express themselves,” Dempsey said.

For more information about her upcoming show, click here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at [email protected].