Dr. Andrea Green Deratany Blasy

Andrea Green Deratany Blasy was born June 8, 1944 to Jules and Mildred Feldman Green in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and died Sunday, October 8, 2017 in Brevard County, Florida. When Andrea was nine month’s old, her family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where she attended Euclid Elementary, West Central Elementary, Mirror Lake Junior High, and Tyrone Jr High. In 1959 the family moved to Titusville, where Andrea attended Titusville High School, and then to south Brevard in 1960, graduating from Melbourne High School in 1962. In 1963, Andrea married Tim Deratany, giving birth to their son, Todd, in 1966, and their daughter, Brooke, in 1969.

After obtaining her Associates Degree from Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College), and Bachelors Degree from Rollins College, she received Master's Degree in 1983 and Doctoral Degree in 1989, both in psychology from Florida Institute of Technology. Dr. Andrea Deratany opened her private practice in 1991 and enjoyed helping her patients until her retirement in 2015.

Along the way, while going through higher education, Andrea became involved in politics, as councilwoman and then the first woman Mayor of Indialantic, from 1979-1984. Andrea successfully ran for county commission and served 1984 through 1988 as the first woman to be elected to the District 3 Commissioner's seat.

While Chair of the County Commission in 1987, Commissioner Deratany was contacted by the White House to help President Ronald Reagan visit Melbourne. Enlisting the aid of the Melbourne Area Chamber of Commerce, Commissioner Deratany created the wildly successful event "A Picnic With the President" at the Melbourne Auditorium. During her tenure, Commissioner Deratany initiated the first ever Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance, which was adopted by coastal communities in Brevard County, the United States and throughout the world. She appeared before the Florida Governor and Cabinet and convinced them to match funds to purchase important pieces of land in the south Brevard beaches, which today leaves much protected land between A1A and the Indian River Lagoon. During this time she was also successful in moving up major road projects in Palm Bay, which allowed them to be built years ahead of time. She was also responsible for establishing the South Mainland Library in Micco and for the Melbourne Library remaining on Fee Avenue, with remodel. Commissioner Deratany also initiated the bike-path project along Hwy A1A south of Fifth Avenue that now runs all the way to the Sebastian Inlet.

In 2004, Andrea met the love of her life, John Allan "Jack" Blasy. They married in a lovely ceremony that included their children, grandchildren, siblings, and closest friends, at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club on December 3, 2006. Jack and Andrea spent thirteen joyous years sharing their love of ballroom dancing and traveling the world.

Andrea is predeceased by her parents, Mildred James and Jules Green. She leaves behind her beloved husband, Jack Blasy, and adoring children, Todd Deratany and Brooke Deratany Goldfarb (husband, Loren Goldfarb), and grandchildren, Macie & Lucas Goldfarb and Dylyn & Andrea Jade Deratany. Andrea is also survived by sisters Sheila Green Hagan (Gene), Leslie Green, and Valerie Green, brothers David Julian Green, and Kelly James (Stephanie), as well as numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, cousin, Gale Feldman (husband Sean Milliken and their daughter, Arabella), stepson, Joe Blasy, stepdaughter Dr. Janeen Elaine Blasy Smith (Dr. Wade Smith), step granddaughters Charlotte & Audrey Smith, stepsister, Nancy Blasy and stepbrother, Jim Blasy. She is further survived by a number of exceptionally close friends and they all know who they are.

Dr. Andrea Green Deratany Blasy made an impact in many areas, was on numerous boards and contributed much to the citizens of Brevard. Her Celebration of Life will be held at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock St. SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909 on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 5:30pm. Due to Dr. Deratany’s desire to always empower women, her family asks that expressions of admiration be made in her name to The Women’s Center in Melbourne (http://womenscenter.net).