David A. Dery ’57
https://www.deryfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-Arthur-Dery?obId=43680696
David Arthur Dery, 91, of Kimball Farms Retirement Community, Lenox, formerly of West Street, Pittsfield, died Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center.
Born in Pittsfield on July 13, 1934, a son of J. Edward Dery, Sr., and Sylvia Rivard Dery, he attended Notre Dame Grammar School and was a 1953 graduate of Cranwell Preparatory School. In 1957, Dave graduated from St. Michael’s College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and was a member of the R.O.T.C.
In September 1957, Dave commissioned to the United States Air Force with the rank of Second Lieutenant. He served at James Connally (Texas), Keesler (Mississippi), Castle (California), and Fairchild (Spokane, Washington) Air Force Bases, where he was promoted to Captain in 1962, and from where he was honorably discharged in August 1964. He continued to serve in the Air Force Reserve.
Following military service, Mr. Dery graduated from the New England Institute of Mortuary Science and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He and his younger brother, J. Edward Dery, Jr., joined the family business, founded by their father in 1937. The elder Mr. Dery died in 1968. Mr. Dery became President of Dery Funeral Home with his brother Ed serving as Vice President; Ed died in a tragic motor vehicle accident in June 1989. Mr. Dery was joined in business by his son, Frederick D. Dery, who manages the “tradition of caring” today.
Mr. Dery was a communicant of St. Ann Church in Lenox. He had been a communicant of St. Mark Church in Pittsfield and Church of the Immaculate Conception in New Lebanon. In his youth, he was a communicant of the former Notre Dame Church.
Mr. Dery was a proud member of Rotary International and the Pittsfield Rotary Club since 1966, with 50+ years perfect attendance and was a Paul Harris Fellow.
He had also been a member of the Pittsfield Boys Club Alumni Association since 1973 and the Alford Brook Club.
Dave was a world traveler who enjoyed motorcycle trips throughout the globe. Besides his many group rides, he on his motorcycle soloed US Route 20 from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon, and US Route 1 from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida. He also rode the shortest continuous route to visit the lower 48 states on his motorcycle.
From childhood he was an avid stamp collector and became an accomplished photographer, receiving an honorable mention in a Nikon contest. At one time, he also enjoyed skiing, playing golf, and fly fishing.
Mr. Dery is remembered as a generous man. He supported many charities and organizations. He was especially generous to the Edmundite Missions, Sisters of the Holy Spirit, and St. Michael’s College.
Mr. Dery’s wife of 55 years, the former Hope A. Retallick, daughter of the late Frederick D. Retallick and Margaret O’Connell Retallick, whom he married August 24, 1957, died November 17, 2012.
He is survived by his daughter, Diana Noble of Lanesborough; two sons, Frederick D. Dery (wife, Brooke) of Windsor and Bart Dery of Pittsfield; two sisters, Sylvia D. Gingras of Pittsfield, and Anne Enright (husband, Charles) of Northborough; two grandsons, David W. Dery (wife, Yvette Losaw) and F. Dashel Dery; two great grandsons, David J. Dery and Daniel W. Dery; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins.