Obituary of Howard Derrick

Howard Derrick, 62, Retired Colonel, U.S. Air National Guard passed away at his home in Heritage Highlands, Arizona surrounded by loved ones on January 17, 2006 after a year long battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Amsterdam, New York December 7, 1943, the son of Walter and Doris Derrick, Mr. Derrick graduated from Amsterdam High School in 1961 and served in the Air National Guard for 38 years until his retirement in 2003. During his career with the Air National Guard, Howard began at the rank of Airman 3rd class and rose to the rank of Colonel in 1998. His last tour of duty was as Deputy Director of Financial Management and Comptroller for the Air National Guard at the Pentagon. Howard is best known for his prowess as a golfer. He has held or shared the course record at five courses in New York State, including Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course and Antlers Country Club. He first won the Amsterdam City Championship in 1959 at the age of 16, also winning the event in 1960, 1963, 1964, and 1967. Since his retirement in 2003, he has won the Heritage Highlands Club Championship two times at his home course in Marana, Arizona and holds the course record of 63. While in high school, he was captain of the basketball team and held the school track records in both the high jump and the long jump. He was recipient of an athletic scholarship at St. Lawrence University where he competed on the basketball and golf teams. As a golf professional, his first career choice, he won the Tupper Lake Open, scoring a hole-in-one during the final round to secure the victory. He was a former member of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Amsterdam. In addition to his father, Mr. Derrick is predeceased by his brother, Alan Derrick. Mr. Derrick is survived by his wife, Gean Cooper Derrick, formerly of Scotia, New York; daughter Lynne Benosky, Greenfield Center, New York; son, Michael Derrick wife Cynthia, Sturbridge, Massachusetts; son, Paul Burton wife Gretchen, Manassas, Virginia; daughter Wendy Burton, Woodbridge, Virginia; his mother, Doris Derrick, Amsterdam, New York; brother Lee Derrick, Amsterdam, New York; brother James Derrick wife Pamela, Glenville, New York; brother Richard Derrick wife Janet, Naperville, Illinois; and sister, Lorna Walsh husband Roy, Fonda, New York. He has five grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 27, 2006 at 7:00pm at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. Calling hours will be held that evening from 4 until 7 at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Howard?s name to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville, New York, 12211 or to St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 24 Pine Street, Amsterdam, New York, 12010.