Derek Fredrick DeCosty

The Great Mystery above is Chief. I am His and with Him, I want not. He casts out a rope to me and it is called Love. He takes me to green grass, cool water and there no danger. I am safe. I eat, lie down and rest. Sometimes my heart is weak and I fall down but he lifts me up and draws me onto a good road. His name is Wonderous. Sometime soon, he may draw me into a place between dark mountains. I will not be afraid for the Great Chief will meet me, the hunger I have felt in this life will be satisfied. I will dwell with the Great Chief forever.

A stellar, three sport athlete at Rome Free Academy, Derek chose hockey as his sport of choice for college when he was offered a full scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnical Institute. After attending RPI, Derek played 14 years of professional hockey in Richmond, Virginia, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Wheeling, West Virginia and for seven years, overseas in England and a season in Adelaide, Australia.

During his years in Wheeling, Derek was a several time ECHL Player of the Week and Player of the Month, and in 1995, was named Hockey magazine's ECHL Player of the Year. Derek had two great years with the Atlanta Flames and the Buffalo Stampede playing roller hockey. After injury, Derek returned to the states and started a career in agronomy at the prestigious TPC Sawgrass Golf Course, home of the Players, where worked for 16 years. He made many memories and fond friendships during his tenure at TPC.

Derek is survived by his mother, Patricia DeCosty of Oklahoma City. He is preceded in death by father, Fiore DeCosty Jr. He survived by his brothers, Fiore III and Damon; Uncles Frank DeCosty, Fred Beatty, and George Beatty; Aunts; Sister Carmella Teresa DeCosty, Michelle Beatty; Step Mother Diane DeCosty; Step sisters Christina Bova and Carin Bova; Cousins; Frank, Joseph and Christopher DeCosty; Lisa DiClemente and Fran DiClemente; Ryan Beatty, Lakota Beatty, Nicole Beatty, Rhea Whiteclay, Trisha Beatty, Jerod Beatty, Sher Jeffress, and Shay Hayes; Nephews; Dylan DeCosty and Blake Paschen; Nieces; Sophia DeCosty and Ahna DeCosty.

A Celebration of Life, Visitation will be held on Monday January 27, 2025 from 3:00pm-5:00PM at Beaches Chapel by Hardage-Giddens, 1701 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, Fl 32250.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Joe Juneau Foundation in Derek’s name.

La Foundation Joe Juneau

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