Derek, as he was known, was born in Draperstown, Northern Ireland on November 27, 1939 to Samuel and Abigail. He emigrated to Canada in 1965, settling in Toronto. A few years earlier, he had met Marion Symth at a dance in Portrush. They married on April 9, 1966 in Toronto and had two daughters, Gail and Anne. They were part of a large community of immigrants from Northern Ireland, making close friends who were like family. Derek's father was a grocer, and Derek's first jobs in Toronto were in retail. He later made a career in housewares marketing. The family moved to Brockville, Ontario in 1986. Derek retired in 2002. Until his last few years, Derek was physically active in his retirement, spending time at the gym and going for long walks. He was friendly, quick to greet others and hold open doors for strangers. He loved dogs, especially the corgis he had as a child, and the family dog, Muffy. Derek and Marion moved back to Toronto in 2016 to be closer to their daughters. He is survived by his wife and daughters, and Gail's partner James, who will miss him very much.