Rest In peace David.  Rosalind From Hines VA Hospital.

I first met Dave when we both worked for the Office of Radiation Protection at the University of Illinois at Chicago. While I served as the Assistant Safety Officer there from Apr.-Oct. 1985, Dave was ORP's Health Physicist.  He taught me some of  the "tricks of the trade" in the pratical applications of radiation safety. I found that Dave was quite diligent, ingenious, & resourceful; he never quit until the problem was solved or the job was done & done RIGHT!  He was always there to provide help and advice as needed; when I wanted to move ahead in my career in radiation safety, Dave knew that the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (now the Illinois Emergency Management Agency) was looking for radiation safety inspectors, and suggested that I apply for one of those positions.  He also provided me with the forms to fill out, and the names of pesonnel that I would meet with.  Thanks to Dave's guidance, I was hired by IDNS/IEMA, and had a successful 30-year career there as a Radiation Safety Inspector/Health Physicist, conducting x-ray safety inspections, radioactive material regulatory inspections, and performed many other related (& quite interesting) duties over a period from Dec. 30, 1985 to Dec. 31, 2015.  While I moved on to IDNS/IEMA, Dave stayed at UIC, where he eventually was promoted to serve as OPR's Radiation Safety Officer (an honor that was well deserved).  On those occasions when I visited UIC to perform radiation safety inspections at the facility, Dave made the inspections pleasant and professional.  He took many steps to improve UIC's large radiation safety program (and I knew that was no easy task, having previously worked there); during his period there as RSO, Dave made sure that the University's radiation protection program was in good shape.  Because of the quality of the program, the inspections were almost always "clear (no violations were found)."  When violations were found (which were usually very minor in nature), Dave would be very compliant and proactive to ensure the item would be immediately corrected (because Dave ran a rather tight ship, I found that violations RARELY occurred).  Even after leaving UIC to work for Hines/VA in the late 1990's, I had those occasions to visit and work with Dave (IEMA worked with the U.S. NRC in implementing policies for adequately securing licensed radioactive material at facilities such as Hines/VA).  I saw that Dave served there with his usual dedicated and diligent demeanor (if he could see this message, I'm sure he'd be tickled reading that previously mentioned alliterative).  I hadn't been in touch with Dave since the mid-2000's, and I was shocked and saddened when I learned of his passing in a telephone call I received on Apr. 28, 2016 from another health physicist.  I can say that it was a pleasure and a privilege to have met and worked with a talented and nice guy.  A small portion of the better side of humanity was indeed lost with his transition from this mortal life into the Afterlife; I wish him peace and happiness there (for him, I hope it's a giant lab & workshop, where he can design, build, and test who knows what)!

David's smile brightened each picture. He has a beautiful family. I wish you all strength through this hard time. I'm lucky to have known him through his work even for a short time.

My thoughts and prayers are with his family.  As a colleague that never met him but through our listserve at work.  He was very generous and willing to give guidance when us newbies needed it.  He also had the quickest wit and one liners that made my day on several occasions.  He is missed and hope the family and friends remember him well.

Doreen you are in my thoughts and prayers. You will Always be FAMILY!
Cousin David you will truly be missed. Rest in piece!
Love Always

RIP Dave! May you feel no more pain and be at peace. An angel now looking over his best friend Doreene. The last words I heard from you will be forever etched in my heart. Oliver loves you too!!

Good people are always taken all too soon. RIP Dave. God Bless

As a colleague, David shared his expertise freely and personally helped me on several occasions. He will be missed.

Words can't express how you feel and there is nothing I can say that you haven't already heard. I pray your strength during this time, you are loved and supported and I'm here with a shoulder if you need me. You and your family are in my prayers..

What a beautiful tribute! Dave will surely be missed by all those who knew him.

Dear Doreen and family,

Please know you have mine and my family's deepest sympathy on your loss.  David is my cousin.  Our Mother's are sisters.  We grew up in Chicago and I knew him mostly when we were young.  I always admired David, he was a very sweet person, very much his Mom.  I have lived in California since 1972.  May God give you comfort during this very difficult time.

Doreen,
              Our thoughts & prayers are with you

Love you so much Doreen...you and yours are in our prayers. Dave was truly one of the nicest people we have ever met. We will miss him greatly and think of him with special thoughts whenever music is being played.

OBITUARY

David J. Derenzo

4 August, 1951 – 22 April, 2016

Chapel Hill Gardens South Funeral Home & Cemetery

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