RICHARD HAROLD DERANEK, JR.  
On Monday, January 14, 2013, Richard Harold Deranek, Jr. of Montgomery Village, MD. Born March 28,1950 in Newark, NJ to the late Richard H. and Helen Seib Deranek. Married 42 years to Julie Garrett Deranek. Father of Richard H. Deranek III (Hal) and his wife, Heather of Seattle, WA and the late Rebecca L. Deranek. Rick is also survived by his sister, Joy Hood and her husband, Dick of Southern Shores, NC and many loving relatives. He lived many of his earlier years in Alexandria, VA and attended Virginia Military Institute. Prior to retirement, he worked in finance and sales in Virginia and Maryland. A memorial service will be held 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 1, 2013 at Covenant United Methodist Church, 20301 Pleasant Ridge Dr., Montgomery Village, MD. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the church.

Published in The Washington Post on Jan. 20, 2013

"Rick Deranek, FHHS class of '68, passed away in January, 2013. Rick was a fine athlete, and perhaps didn't get enough credit for it during FH years. The starting center on the football team, he went to VMI on a football scholarship. In basketball, he was a dead-eye gym rat shooter. In baseball, he was bizarrely cut from a Pony League team in '64, and wouldn't go anywhere near the game for four years until trying out for the FH team as a senior on a whim. Not only did he make the team, but was the starting centerfielder until being stopped by an injury. Rick was what you might call a cynical guy, but his parents were the nicest people in the world, and his home was a very inviting place where Scott Craigmile and I spent many hours circa '65-'67. A pool table was part of the attraction, and many a pivotal shot was preceded by the declaration that access to many multiples of one particular object of adolescent lust who frequented Waynewood pool was riding on the outcome. He was predeceased, about 15 months earlier, by a daughter with special needs. I wonder if she took his heart along with her. I hadn't been in touch with Rick for decades, but it's still hard to believe he's not around."

~ Gordy Jackson (FHHS '68)  Sumitted 1/4/2014