Mr. William F. Derwin

William "Bill" Derwin, age 90, beloved husband of the late Barbara Moshka Derwin, passed away on March 21, 2025, leaving a legacy of love and dedication to his family and community. Bill was born on January 25, 1935, in Waterbury, CT, the son of the late Thomas H. and Catherine (Ryan) Derwin. He was a lifelong resident of Waterbury, attending Sacred Heart High School and raising his family in the East Mountain neighborhood where he lived for 48 years. Known affectionately as "Daideo" by his grandchildren, he will be remembered for his kind nature, warm smile, good conversations, and enjoying good times with family and friends.

After graduating from Bryant College with an Accounting Degree, Bill built a successful career as an accountant and controller, working at Scovill's Manufacturing, Century Brass, and Wesson Oil. His dedication to his profession and his remarkable work ethic were evident throughout his career. He often channeled his accounting skills to the numerous community organizations he supported: Waterbury YMCA, Tri-State Alpine Ski Association, and Elks Club men’s golf league played at Western Hills. He was well-known as team scorekeeper and part-time coach for the little league baseball team East Mountain Tigers.

Bill's skiing began with the NAVA ski club and a rope tow at “NAVA Hill”, sparking a journey filled with passion, adventure and purpose. He became a weekend warrior at Mohawk Mountain and earned his PSIA certification and took on responsibilities as Assistant Ski School Director and later Director of Racing, sharing unforgettable moments with his close friends, Armand and Carol Marchand. Bill and his wife Barbara spend countless weekends at Mohawk Mountain, bringing their children to an environment filled with outdoor fun and close friendships. Bill was active in the Tri-State Alpine Ski Racing Association and brought youth racing programs to CT through the formation of the Buddy Werner League which later became the Connecticut Youth Ski League (CYSL) and is still in full operation today. Bill’s unwavering enthusiasm and passion for skiing have been passed on to his children, grandchildren, and countless young participants in ski racing programs across Connecticut and the Tri-State area.

Other favorite interests include tennis, bowling, handball, racquetball, and lawn games like Jarts and Bocce ball. Bill was an avid golfer and participated in leagues at Western Hills Golf Course. He scored his only hole-in-one at Western Hills hole #9 - a 145 yard par 3 - on July 31, 2009, a proud achievement in his golfing journey. When he wasn’t skiing or working on his golf game, Bill could always be found at the Elks Lodge in the company of friends, enjoying a glass of his favorite red wine which was usually a Cabernet or Merlot.

Bill is survived by his four children - David Derwin and his wife Laura of Newcastle, WA (and grandchildren Zachary and Tori); Michael Derwin of San Francisco, CA; Nancy Claffey and her husband Bill of Colchester, CT (and grandchildren Ryan, Kevin, and Aidan); and William J Derwin of Englewood, CO and his late wife Lily Depalma (and grandchildren Andrew, Paige, and Kaitlin) and current wife Sofia Cerbon (and grandchild Emilia).

Bill is predeceased by his 3 siblings - his brother Tom Derwin and wife Jeanne of Waterbury; his sister Mary Dowling and husband Bob of West Suffield and Old Saybrook; his brother Jack Derwin of Waterbury. He is survived by Jack’s wife Elaine Newell Derwin of Waterbury.

Bill was an easy-going individual with a warm personality. He was a good listener and enjoyed conversations, outings, and new adventures with friends. His generosity and warm spirit touched many lives, and he will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Visitation hours will be held on June 20, 2025 at 8:30am at Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Care, 1987 East Main Street, Waterbury, CT, followed by a 10am funeral mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and 11am burial at Old St. Joseph’s cemetery. A reception will be held at 12pm at Brass City Bistro on Hamilton Avenue, just a half mile from the cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a contribution to the Derwin DePalma’s non-profit LuvFromLily which provides lunches to children. Founded in 2020, it has supplied nearly 500,00 sandwiches to children in underserved communities in Denver and Memphis.