In Memoriam

Dr. David Derse

1949-2009

Steve Hughes

Fishing with Dave

I was privileged not only to have Dave Derse as a colleague, but also as a friend and fishing buddy. Most of our trips involved fly fishing for trout in western Maryland. We fished the Casselman in the winter when both the air temperature and the water temperature were 32°F, and a mixture of sleet and rain fell from a leaden sky. We fished Town Creek in the spring when there was the scent of new life in the air and the first hints of green appeared on the ends of the branches above the stream. We fished the Gunpowder in the summer when walking down from the parking lot to the stream in the canyon was like walking from a city sidewalk into an air-conditioned building, and the Savage in the fall when the stream ran gin clear and the fish seemed to be magically suspended above the rocks under a canopy of red and gold. The gift of those days was not the fish we caught, but the chance to be out in some of the most beautiful places on the east coast. I had the best of it, because he was there. In all the years I knew him, I never heard Dave say a negative word about another person, or complain about anything, even when we were, quite literally, wading in ice water. He was one of the kindest and gentlest people I ever knew. His personality illuminated his life and had a profound and positive influence on all who knew him. In the deepest and most original sense, he was a good man.

Gisela Heidecker

Dave Derse was my friend and colleague for 25 years. Most of this time we saw each other daily and worked together closely; he actually was my boss for the last 10 years. He was the best friend, colleague and boss anybody could ask for. He was kind, generous, funny (in a quiet way) and very, very bright. He lived for science, and doing it well was the most important thing to him. “Doing good science” meant to him that you were more interested in getting answers to scientific questions than to beat out the other guy. He was very generous with his time and with reagents he had generated to help the rest of the scientific community. When he still did his own experiments, they were always carefully designed and beautifully executed. Later, when he was responsible for a whole lab, his directions were detailed, when needed, but he also left room for his people to design their own experiments. Under his directions many students and postdocs flourished in the lab and went on to good positions in academia and industry. At this point I still cannot imagine how the lab and I will go on without him. However, we will all try to honor his memory by doing our very best.

Patricia Lloyd

I have to say that Dave was truly "one of a kind." He was a great boss (and friend) -- you could always come to him and ask his advice without ever worrying about "asking stupid questions." He was always easy to talk to and joke with. I guess Gisela said it best that Dave was the heart and soul of the lab and he will be truly missed.

Jerry Princler

Dave will be remembered by his lab colleagues for his leadership and guidance, and as a patient teacher, full of ideas, and always ready to share and discuss. Perhaps just as much, he will be remembered for calm demeanor, unfailing sense of humor, and an ever ready willingness to engage in the humorous give and take he often initiated when he came back into the lab, or at gatherings in his office. This above all made it so easy to enjoy working with him. We will miss him greatly. His passing is a very personal loss for each of us. Our small part of the world will never be the same.

Vladimir Pak

Still cannot believe Dave is gone. It happened so soon. Recently we talked about finishing my first project and starting a new one. I was so excited about it because he was one who trusted people and helped them. Dave was the kindest and warmest person I have ever met. My postdoc project in his lab was the best school for me. He was always open to helping people and was a careful supervisor. I will remember Dave as a warm-hearted man and the best teacher.

Anna Ilinskaya

To perfect boss and wonderful person. We are missing you already terribly. I wish we had more time to enjoy your company, wisdom and wit. Truly treasure the time I worked with you.