Francis James Derby

Francis (Frank) James Derby was born in Brooklyn, NY on 22 November 1942, the fifth of six children, to Henry V. and Katherine M. Derby. Frank passed away on Saturday 25 June 2022.

After completing High School in Brooklyn, Frank attended and graduated cum laude from St Francis College, Brooklyn, with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. He worked a variety of very short-lived jobs including elevator operator, NYC taxi driver and bartender among others. He was also a game show contestant where he won a sizable amount of money and immediately traveled to parts unknown. He finally settled in with various New York City publishers as a copy editor, as well as stints with the new American Library, Dell, Amoco, IBM France where he taught English, and then made a career of his job with the Office of Personnel Management in Washington, D.C. He retired from OPM in 1998 and pursued a variety of volunteer opportunities as a reading tutor with the northern Virginia school system as well as the Fairfax County Adult Education Center where he was a member of the Northern Virginia Literary Council and the Lighthouse community where Frank read for the blind. He also worked at Travelers Aid at National Airport as well several other volunteer organizations.

Many of Frank’s friends and colleagues have characterized him as “the smartest and most worldly person I have ever known”; he was “a treasured friend, tho sometimes a bit gnarly” an observation that many would also share! He was everyone’s favorite curmudgeon. When Frank learned someone was interested in a topic that person was sure to receive many envelopes filled with articles clipped from a variety of sources, highlighted and annotated to keep the reader “entertained, laughing and informed.” Frank was an avid traveler and visited many corners of this world. He was inquisitive and interested in history, geography, society, languages and observed politicians with his caustic wit.

Frank will be missed by a great many people. He is survived by his sister and brother, and many nieces and nephews.

A service will be held graveside at a later date. 

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