Richard Edward Derkman

Richard Edward Derkman, beloved husband and devoted father, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017, surrounded by his loving family after a brave and long 10 year battle with cancer. Richard was born in Avon Park, Florida, on June 25, 1963, and attended Avon Park High School. He was a natural athlete that played high school football, basketball and baseball. Rick attended the University of Central Florida (UCF) where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He wanted to be a Physical Education (P.E.) teacher and Coach because he loved to teach children the joys of sports. He also was a devoted father and wanted to make sure he was home when his kids were home from school. His family, teaching, sports, and fishing were his passions. Rick loved sports and when he was young played baseball, football and basketball till his senior year in high school. He enjoyed playing sports with his friends, Bart Murphy, Bill Williams, Dave Roberts and Darwin Ford among other childhood friends.

Rick was a Physical Education teacher at Golden Gate Elementary School for 26 years and loved his job, students and colleagues. Every student that has ever attended Golden Gate Elementary school since 1990 has had “Mr. Derkman” as their P.E. teacher. He was a Coach for his daughter’s and son’s T-Ball, softball and baseball teams the entire time they played the sport. He later became a volunteer at Gulf Coast High School as a Band Booster for 7 years, while his children played in the school’s Marching Band. He flipped burgers and cooked hot dogs at home football games, helped his wife Martha with the band uniforms, moved the chains at the sidelines, and was a chaperone for away games and special events like playing at Disney World Thanksgiving Parade and Universal Studios Macy’s Christmas Day Parade.

Richard loved football and his alma mater, UCF Golden Knights football team; the family had season tickets to all the UCF games in Orlando, Florida. They would have tailgate parties before every home game at the stadium grounds along with his college friends, John and Michelle Ames, all proud UCF Alumni’s. Rick was an avid fisherman and loved to fish for bass, trout and snook, but did not eat fish and would always release his catch. Rick also loved to play softball, and was usually the pitcher or first basemen. He loved to play golf with his friends, Rosa LaRue, Anthony Carlone, Matt Lawton and Cesar Barranza, every chance he got.

Rick absolutely loved the holidays and decorated his home with a magnificent light show and Winter Wonderland. During Halloween, Rick would convert his home into a haunting Halloween theme with spooky lights, eerie fog, zombies, flying ghosts and a cemetery under the large oak tree with funny sayings on the tombstones. Every 4th of July, Rick would purchase way too much fireworks to put on a spectacular fireworks display for his family, friends, and neighbors. Then on every Valentine’s Day and Wedding Anniversary he would send his beloved wife, Martha, two dozen red roses and had them delivered to her work.

Rick loved to have a good time and he loved to travel and go on vacations. The Derkman family had Annual Disney Passes which they would use regularly throughout the year while the children were young. Through the years, the Derkman's visited most of the amusement parks in Florida, like Sea World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, etc... Also, every year the entire family would take a summer cruise with Orlando and Rosario Sosa, Mercedes Sosa, Rosa LaRue and Rosa Rodriguez to visit the sunny Caribbean islands, the Bahamas, and the beaches of Mexico. Rick also enjoyed the snow and loved to ski in Colorado. He took family ski trips along with his sister's family: Mary Linda, Mort, Bo and Jenna Jackson, as well as with other family members and friends. Rick loved his visit to our nation's capital, Washington D.C. on Independence Day with his family. They saw amazing fireworks and visited all the Smithsonian Museums and historical statutes and monuments, witness the Changing of the Guard at Arlington Cemetery, and had a private VIP tour of the Capitol building. Rick was a city slicker and loved the Big Apple, New York City, and he loved to visit it with his family and as a GCHS Band chaperone. He also loved to play slot machines and enjoyed visiting Las Vegas. Thanks to his beloved sister-in-law, Mercedes Sosa, who orchestrated all of Rick and Martha’s vacations, he had many anniversary trips planned throughout the years. Richard and Martha renewed their vows on their 10th Wedding Anniversary at Grace Chapel with an Elvis impersonator and later he celebrated his 40th birthday in Vegas with family and friends. As they always say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Rick and Martha celebrated their 20th Wedding Anniversary by going to Europe and visiting London, Paris, and Rome, where they had their wedding dinner celebration at the restaurant atop of the Eiffel Tower. Then they celebrated their recent 25th Wedding Anniversary with a romantic Hawaiian vacation. There were trips to New Orleans staying on Bourbon Street, Key West, South Beach, Daytona Beach, Zion National Park, the Grand Canyon, Bryce National Park to name a few.

Rick is survived by his loving wife, Martha Sosa; his children, Mercedes and Ricky Derkman; his father, Richard Derkman; his sister, Mary Linda Jackson; and many family and friends that loved him dearly as a son, brother and uncle. He was predeceased by his loving mother, Lucile “Lucy” Derkman, and his dear friend and college roommate, Darwin Dee Ford.

A Funeral Mass will be held by Father Bob on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11:30 a.m. at Saint Agnes Catholic Church, located on 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples, Florida.

A "Celebration of Life" Memorial Service will be at Hodges Funeral Home, 525 111th Avenue North, Naples, 34108, on Sunday, January 15, 2017 starting at 11:00 a.m., with the service at 1:30 p.m., immediately followed by the committal of his remains in their final resting place.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.hodgesfuneralhome.com

Donations in Rick's memory may be made to Golden Gate Elementary School and in the Memo Section reference Richard E. Derkman Children's Memorial Fund. Please mail your donation to Golden Gate Elementary School, 4911 20th Place S.W., Naples, Florida 34116.