Dereck G. Capaz

A true warrior, Dereck welcomed each day and every challenge with amazing courage, strength, resilience and perseverance. He chose to live and to live his life well.

Dereck will continue to live on in the hearts and cherished memories of his loving wife and best friend Laura; his beautiful and brave daughter Cameron (his “Kenzie” and “baby girl”); his strong and determined young sons: Hunter (his “Bear”) and Colton (his “favorite little buddy”); his ever-supportive and loving parents: Dennis and Nancy Capaz; his proud brother, Mark, as well as his parents-in-law: James and Janette Turbe; brother-in-law, Scott; three lovely nieces; and all of his aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family and close friends who are more like family.

Dereck was preceded in death by his grandparents: Gabriel and Consuelo Gijon; and Pedro and Eva Capaz, all of Tampa.

Born in April 1978, Dereck was a third-generation Tampa native and alumni of Saint Lawrence Catholic School (c/o 1992) and Jesuit High School (c/o 1996). He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business in 2000. Thereafter, Dereck pursued law and business while attending Stetson University College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees in 2003.

As a local Tampa attorney, Dereck was honored to practice law in his hometown for the past eighteen years. After graduating law school, Dereck served as an Assistant State Attorney for the State Attorney’s Office, 13th Judicial Circuit, where he became the lead trial attorney of a specialized felony crime division responsible for prosecuting serious violent criminal offenders. In pursuit of professional goals, Dereck entered private practice and joined a civil insurance defense firm before founding his own civil and personal injury trial practice, Capaz Law Firm, in 2012. Just as he promised, with a little faith, time and patience, Dereck built a successful law practice, while earning the respect, trust and loyalty of his clients and fellow attorney colleagues. He always maintained a strong work ethic and took great pride in his personal commitment to live and practice with integrity, compassion and professionalism. Dereck truly enjoyed the law and his work as an attorney, as well as any opportunity to assist and counsel another in need. Dereck always made himself available and never hesitated to take time for anyone who reached out—no matter the person, no matter how small or big the issue, and no matter what personal challenge he faced at that time. The words genuine, humble, good and kind are simple but describe him well.

Outside of the law, Dereck had an incredible zest and passion for living life to the fullest. He enjoyed fitness and maintaining an active, healthy and on-the-go life, whether he was in the gym, running or riding his bike on the trail, training for a half-marathon, snow-skiing, four-wheeling or doing what he loved most—helping coach or support his kids’ sports teams, playing catch or kicking the soccer ball with his two favorite boys, or watching his favorite cheerleader (“his Kenzie”) from the sidelines with pride. Dereck loved the outdoors, especially the water, whether he was boating, fishing, swimming, jet-skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, bodysurfing and jumping waves, or simply walking along the beach to watch the sunset. He would say, “We only get so many sunsets in this life. Watch and enjoy it.” Dereck loved to travel and plan adventures for his family, like their time spent exploring the national parks out West, Key West, the Virgin Islands, Colorado, California, New York, and Europe.

Above all things, Dereck loved and was completely devoted to his three beautiful children, Cameron, Hunter and Colton. He was their trusted best friend and biggest supporter; he was their reliable coach and proud mentor in every aspect of life; he was their hard-working role model, strong protector and brave hero; he was their fun-loving and always-present Dad—the best dad ever. Dereck’s children were his absolute greatest accomplishment, and they fueled his passion, his purpose, as well as his strength, determination and motivation to truly live his life each day. The immense love and pride that Dereck felt for Cameron, Hunter and Colton was endless, and it will remain everlasting.

Dereck was only 39 and appeared to be the epitome of health when he was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 lung cancer. His diagnosis was heartbreaking, unexpected, unprovoked and unexplained. This particular form of cancer was extremely rare, highly aggressive, largely unresearched, and suggested an average life expectancy of only 6 to 9 months. Fortunately for us, Dereck was someone who never settled for “average.” He defied medical expectations and continued to live a very active life for the next 5 years, 2 ½ months. His positivity, resilience, determination and fearless mindset to survive and to live for today are inspirational. Dereck never stopped fighting; he never stopped hoping or believing; and he never stopped planning for tomorrow. Dereck was someone who appreciated the importance of enjoying life each day; someone who set daily and future goals for himself; someone who never questioned “why?”; someone who understood the importance of hard work and perseverance; someone who refused to allow a medical diagnosis to define him, his family or his life; and someone who always strived to see the good in people, the lesson to be learned from a situation, and the rainbow after the storm. Dereck was fearless and had the mentality of a lion—defeat was never an option. He led a life that exemplified the true meaning of strength and courage.

Despite our grief, we are thankful for Dereck’s life and our life with him; our time spent together with him; all of the life lessons, his words of advice and encouragement, and the important core values he relentlessly shared and engrained in his children; and of course all of our memories, laughter, and love shared together.

Hero. Survivor. Son. Brother. Husband. Father. Guardian Angel.

Until we meet again, we love you, we cherish you, and we will miss you forever. LMNOP.

Father Chuck Dornquast will celebrate a funeral mass on Friday, October 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at Saint Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 North Himes Avenue, Tampa. The Family will receive relatives and friends following the service (if time permits). Respectfully, interment will be private with immediate family.

Flowers may be delivered to Blount & Curry Funeral Home at Garden of Memories, 4207 Lake Avenue, Tampa. Memories and condolence messages may be shared with Dereck’s Family at: www.gardenofmemoriestampa.com.

The Family wishes to extend heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful doctors, surgeons, nurses and staff at Moffit Cancer Center for the medical care, encouraging support, never-ending compassion, and friendship bestowed upon Dereck and Laura over the past five years, especially by Dr. Michael Shafique, Mrs. Michelle Roberts, Dr. Michael Yu, Mrs. Debbie Mangiofico-Coppola, Dr. Stephen Rosenberg, and Dr. Arnold Etame. Thank you for believing in the power and unwavering strength of Dereck’s fighting spirit and determination and, most importantly, thank you for granting us and our children with the most precious gift of all—more time. We are forever grateful.