Victor Benedict Demarest, Jr.

Victor Benedict Demarest, Jr., 94 of Pensacola, FL died on January 26, 2026, surrounded by the large and caring family he spent his life creating, and happiest days enjoying. Born to Victor and Agnes Demarest, he was the third of seven children and their oldest son. Victor grew up in Dumont, NJ and fondly told stories of his first job riding on the back of a truck, delivering milk before elementary school, being elected President of the Student Body and attending Boys State in high school, and playing baseball in college.

Victor is survived by his wife of 71 years, Joyce Roland Demarest. They met in anatomy class as PE minors at Montclair State Teachers College. Joyce recalls knowing he was “the one” on an early group movie date where Vic reached his hand to lead her through a dark theater and an electric shock sizzled up her arm. They married after college, leaving on their wedding day in a car bound for Colorado Springs where Victor served in the Army and where their first daughter was born. Following military service, they returned to New Jersey where Vic took on corporate accounting and completed an MBA from Rutgers. Joyce managed the birth and care of three more daughters.

In 1970, they transferred to Pensacola, FL where Joyce went on to teach fifth grade, Vic to become a CPA and their fifth daughter arrived.

Victor was a tireless problem solver and teacher of life lessons. He liked nothing better than to find a news article, a person (especially a family member) or an experience that was just the right solution for what someone needed at the time. Hearing that he might be visiting, his children and grandchildren were known to say, “if he comes, he will build it.” One never knew if you would find your porch furniture painted black, all your toilet seats replaced, or a virtually indestructible playhouse in your backyard. He built skateboard ramps and children’s desks, sand boxes, toy train tables, pint size daybeds, and a life-sized wooden horse. He created endless space saving contraptions that would make today’s DIY TikTokers swoon. His own backyard contained a meticulously designed and maintained swing set that every child, grandchild, and great grandchild experienced with glee. His garage was organized down to the last nut and bolt; he had a tool and a purpose for everything.

Victor practiced a morality based on consistency and duty. He donated blood like clockwork, totally 25 gallons over his lifetime. A person of great faith, he attended Mass every week, finding a Catholic church wherever he was. Every family event or moment there was no one who showed up like Victor B. Demarest. This often-involved long car rides, Infor the other riders pre-digital devices and headphones —a brutal silence broken only by the crinkle of unwrapping a root beer barrel hard candy. Victor seemed to enjoy the time to think. It was his greatest desire to go, and so he did.

Victor was never aloof or hard to know; he was upstanding. He believed there was a right way to be and a right way to do things. He often shared his philosophy with an opening gambit of: “the

trick is…” His love of the correct made him intolerant of meanness or bullies. While on the surface it might seem unlikely, he became a bonus father and grandfather through his consistent and reliable presence. He was especially close with the family of Joe and Jean Klockenkemper of Nashville, TN. In the last few years, Victor and his family deeply appreciated the friendship and care of Sue Ellen MacCann.

Particularly in his later years, Victor’s favorite expression was, “we’ve got people.” He delighted in his family, those he considered family, and those he could connect with family. His eyes lit up around loved ones. A keen observer of everyone and everything, Victor was clever and remarkably accurate with family nicknames, like Trixie, Spike, Rocky and Rowdy. He lavished hugs and held you tight. His heart poured out especially with his two grandchildren with special needs. The stoic man almost gushed when he saw a baby. He rarely gave a compliment directly but thoroughly enjoyed expressing his pride to others. When asked about how he raised successful daughters, he always answered, “start by picking the right mother.”

Victor also loved to read and to learn. Often, the TV would be on, a book beside him, and the Wall Street Journal on his lap. He soaked up knowledge. He cut clips from the paper, mailing them often. His knowledge, which could come in personal homilies, will be remembered and missed. Along with his humor – dry and sly with a little edge.

The families of Victor and Joyce’s five children will celebrate his life and mourn his passing: Maureen Demarest Murray and Doug Murray (deceased) and their family:

• Morgan Murray
• Matt Murray and Eliza MacArthur Murray
  • Margaret Murray
  • Mac Murray
• Meredith Murray and Dylan Cunningham
  • Mary Douglas Cunningham
• Madeline Murray
• Cynthia Demarest LeBreton and Robert LeBreton

Karen Demarest Corsaro and Danny Corsaro and their family:

• Daniel C. Corsaro and Catherine Corsaro
  • Gio Corsaro
  • Vinny Corsaro
• Maggie Corsaro Leblang and Nic Leblang
  • Gus Leblang
  • Josephine Leblang
• Anthony Corsaro

Barbara Demarest and Jim Rosenberg and their family:

• David Demarest Rosenberg and Mary Robertson Rosenberg
• Jacob Rosenberg

Vicki Demarest Peeples and Greg Peeples and their family:

• Sarah Peeples Sloyan and Louis Sloyan
  • Madison Sloyan
  • Will Sloyan
  • Luke Sloyan
• Paul Peeples
• Natalie Peeples
• MaryPat Peeples Gilmer and Alec Gilmer
  • Eloise Gilmer
  • Walker Gilmer

A Visitation will be held at 10:00 am until the Funeral Mass begins at 11:00 am Friday, February 6, 2026, at St. Paul Catholic Church, 3131 Hyde Park Rd, Pensacola, FL 32503. A reception will follow directly at the Parish Center. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Victor B. Demarest, Jr. can be made to the St. Paul Catholic Church Building Fund or either of the programs that provide services to our special needs family members: St. Paul Catholic Church Donation Home Page

Morgan Murray’s program: ARC of Greensboro, 28 Battleground Court, Greensboro, NC 27408 Paul Peeples’s program: Eagles Wings of Tuscaloosa, 12379 Eagles Wings Drive, Coker, AL 35452: The ARC of Greensboro Donate

The family appreciates the love and memories so many have shared during this time.