12 December 2008

My brother's father-in-law

Just got news that my brother's father-in-law, Jack Derham, probably won't recover from yesterday's surgery. At 75 he still gets programming contracts, and is always up on technology--sometimes with the very get-off-my-lawn-you-kids attitude of "we did the same thing 40 years ago..." Last I spoke with him was at my brother's for Thanksgiving. He thought the Macy's parade Rickroll was funny (the rest of my family was somewhat bemused by what it meant), and we talked about the culling of social networking platforms. I think he had some difficulty getting work recently (who hasn't) and maybe had some non-ideal experiences working at that age and with his health, but maybe it was OK. I'll miss him.

There is no understanding such an uncomfortable and sad collection of Jack, my dad, and Lisa's dad passing away. I want to say f-you to fate or whatever, but that doesn't even feel correct or true. I hope Betty and the nieces hold up OK.

Gone. A little after 2. The certainty was helpful for me; hope it's the same for others.

[ updated 15 Dec 2008 ]

Obituary from the AJC:

DERHAM, John John (Jack) Spellman Derham died of surgery complications at 2:11 PM on Friday, December 12, 2008 at St. Joseph's Hospital. Jack was born in Worcester, MA and lived for 18 years in Uxbridge, MA. He went to the public schools of Uxbridge until completion of his freshman year in high school at which time he attended St. John's Prep. He graduated in June, 1950, just a few days prior to the beginning of the Korean Conflict. He then attended Catholic University in Washington, D.C. After graduation Jack served 4 years, 3 months and 11 days in the United States Marine Corps. During his service he became involved with electronics which set the tone for his future career. His first job following his discharge from the USMC was with the Philco Corp where he began his studies in computer science. He would continue in this profession working for a number of different companies before establishing his own company, Direct Systems, Inc. He was a computer software consultant until his death. Jack leaves his wife, Betty Landrum Derham, of Marietta, Georgia; daughter, Lisa Strader and her husband, Bob, of Alpharetta, GA; daughter, Julie Jbara and her husband, Greg, of Los Angeles, CA; four wonderful grand-children, Caroline, Sarah, Zachary and Aidan; his sister, Rosalie Gittler of New York City, NY; and nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors at H.M. Patterson and Son, Canton Hill, 1157 Old Canton Rd, Marietta, GA 30068 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Monday, December 15. Funeral services will be held at Mt. Zion UMC, 1770 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30062 on Tuesday, December 16 at 11:00 AM followed by a military burial at Cheatham Hill Memorial Gardens. Everyone is invited to a reception following the burial services which will be held in the Family Ministry Center at Mt. Zion UMC at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers please make a memorial donations to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in memory Jack. JOHN (JACK) SPELLMAN DERHAM

Visitation will be from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monday 15 December:

H.M. Patterson & Son Funeral Home
1157 Old Canton Road, NE
Marietta, GA 30068
770-977-9485

Services at 11:00 AM on Tuesday:

Mt. Zion United Methodist Church
1770 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30062
770-971-1465

Military burial following:

Cheatham Hill Memorial
1861 Dallas Hwy., SW
Marietta, GA 30064-1945
770-424-1111

[ posted by sstrader on 12 December 2008 at 12:15:01 PM in Personal ]