Derek Henry Berube died Tuesday June 5, 2007 in his sleep at the age of 24. During the last 2 years, he fought courageously against chronic illness.
He graduated from the American School for the Deaf June 2001 with High Honors and a Special Commendation from the State of Connecticut. In 2002, he worked at Halsey-Lidgard Sailmakers Inc. and started his apprenticeship as a custom sail-maker until 2005 when he became ill. Throughout his life and especially during his illness, his mother, Eileen, was a source of constant support, love and company; they particularly enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles together.
He was self-proclaimed the “deaf kid who played rock-and-roll” and had more passion than anyone for music, family, friends, and animals. As a musician he composed many songs and enjoyed playing them on his guitar. He spent many hours jamming with anyone who could play. Derek also had a variety of different hobbies including photography and restoring classic cars with his Dad.
Derek had a passion for motorized vehicles that goes back to the days when he and his two brothers, Dylan and Kevin, rode go-carts, dirt bikes and ATVs in the back yard. Over the last 18 months, he restored a 1970 Nova completely to mint condition, an accomplishment of which he was very proud. He loved spending time with his family, playing cards with his grandparents, fishing on the family boat, swimming at the beach and riding jet skis with Dylan and Kevin, even during Hurricane Felix while jumping 25 foot waves with his Dad!
Derek had the biggest heart and always helped out his friends whenever they needed him. There are fond memories of playing videos games, listening and playing music until the sun came up with his best friend Mark Tebbets and his sister Meg, and Derek’s brother Dylan. Derek had a gentle, kind soul who loved animals, especially Copper, his basset hound, who was always at his side along with his cat Muffy.
Bob Dylan was Derek's musical idol and one his recent favorite Dylan lyrics that he often shared with his Dad was “You’ll never know hurt I have suffered or the pain I’ve raised above. And I’ll never know the same about you. Your loneliness or kind of love that makes me feel so sorry.” He is loved by many and will be missed by all.
He is survived by his mother and father, Eileen Henry Berube and Danny Berube, his two brothers, Dylan and Kevin, and his paternal grandmother Lillian Berube, and a host of cousins, aunts and uncles.
His family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Historic downtown Mystic on Monday from 5-7pm. A Funeral service will be conducted on Tuesday at 2pm at the funeral home with burial following at Stonington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Crohn’s and Colitis of America Foundation, 17th floor, 386 Park Avenue South, New York, NY, 10016.
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