[2] From 1969 to 1972, Dearie was a member of the staff at the United Nations Secretariat in New York City, where he coordinated conferences and aid programs.
Dearie ran for New York City Comptroller in 1981, but was defeated by the incumbent Harrison J. Goldin in the Democratic primary.
Shortly after, redistricting placed Dearie in the same district as Republican Guy Velella, which now covered Parkchester and Throggs Neck.
In late 2001, it was widely publicized that John C. Dearie's personal injury plaintiffs' firm in the state of New York has been experimenting with bus-sized "mobile law offices.
"[6] Dearie's penchant for mobility began years before as an Assemblyman when he took to creating outdoor district offices by setting up folding tables in parking lots and shopping malls instead of hearings in public-hearing rooms.