Derek A. Beaulieu

Derek Aaron Beaulieu, a lifelong resident of Milford, NH, passed away peacefully at home in his sleep in the early morning hours of May 19th, 2022, after a lengthy illness. He was born on July 14th,1980 in Nashua, NH, and lived the majority of his life in Milford, where he attended Milford schools, graduating from Milford High School in 1999. He then attended Keene State College, earning a B.A. Degree in History in 2004. Derek was employed by the United States Postal Service in Hollis, NH for over 19 years. He began working as a Substitute Carrier while attending college, later becoming a Career Rural Carrier. His most recent employment had been at Achille Agway in Milford, a job that he truly enjoyed until health problems forced him into retirement. Derek was predeceased by his maternal grandparents William B. and Rita Von Iderstine, his paternal grandmother Janice Beaulieu, his uncle William E. Von Iderstine, and his great aunt Rose and great uncle Donald (Dutchie) Von Iderstine, all of Milford, NH. Derek is survived by his parents David and Cheryl (Von Iderstine) Beaulieu, his brother Dana Beaulieu and wife Jessica Beaulieu and their daughter, his beloved niece Emily J. Beaulieu (his little EJ) whom he loved as his very own daughter. He is also survived by his uncle Robert Von Iderstine and wife Susanna, Aunts Darcy Atkinson and husband Bill and Karen Johnson and husband Dale, as well as multiple cousins and other extended family members. As a youth, Derek was a one of a kind child who was happiest when he was taking up company and playing sports with friends in the neighborhood who were sometimes much older than him. With those of his own age he was a Leader of the Pack, a Pied Piper of sorts - serious and funny, engaging and sometimes distant, he was mostly a Free Spirit. In grade school, a teacher once told his parents that his best subject was recess. Derek was an avid sports fan of all of the Boston teams, particularly the Bruins and Patriots. He also loved college sports, usually rooting for whichever team was considered to be the underdog - something he always related to. A natural in any sport that interested him, his love for team sports began at age 5 when he played hockey with a Nashua area youth program. He went on to play baseball, basketball and soccer in the MCAA programs where he and his teammates won numerous championships at every age level. He was selected for the All Star Team for each of these sports from age 10 through age 15 and was awarded the MVP Trophy in Basketball upon graduating from Biddy League at age 12. In school sports Derek was a team member of the Tri County Jr High School Baseball champions of 1994. In high school he competed at the Varsity level in soccer, golf, basketball and baseball, earning 4 year Varsity awards for Fall, Winter and Spring sports. It was during this time where he was given the nickname “Zor'' by an upperclassmen team member, as well as “Icon” by one of the school’s Faculty members. Prior to his senior year Derek was selected at a tryout held at Holy Cross College to play as an outfielder and pitcher for Team Northern New England in a Baseball Showcase featuring college prospect players from the Eastern states of the North and South for the “Blue-Gray” Baseball Classic Games, held at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. At the completion of his senior year he was nominated and chosen to play for Team New Hampshire as a starting outfielder in the Shriners Classic, a 3 games series versus Team Vermont held at Plymouth State College. Derek went on to be selected as a freshman player for the Keene State College Baseball team, playing briefly until he left the sport to focus on his academics. In later years when the school sports had ended, he would often speak of the mentors he’d had - Ted Bishop, Bill Brown, Maurice “Moe” Facques and Jason Parent - with the utmost respect and gratitude for all that they had taught him. Lessons learned from their example were much more than just about the sport they were coaching him in at the time. At Keene State College Derek made many friends, none of whom were more loved than his brothers in the Sigma Lambda Chi Fraternity. Given the name “Duke” by his fraternal “Big Brother'' Rob, he was regarded as a stoic rock, a fierce defender of the organization and its honor and dignity. A protector by nature, he was proud to have been often called upon to oversee the goings on at the fraternity functions - a “chaperone” of sorts - to keep the peace and ensure the well being of the guests attending. Derek’s biggest passion after his college years actually started when he was quite young. Given a toddler sized plastic golf club and ball, he quickly learned how to use it. For days and weeks afterward he’d hit that ball in his backyard at home and also in his Grandfather Bill’s yard. Grandpa then took a couple of his old clubs, cut them short for Derek, re-gripped them, and a “Golf Monster” was created. As an adult he would practice and play as much as possible. Ever willing to help, he would often be asked for some tips or a brief lesson from a fellow golfer, young or old, whose frustrated attempts at the sport welcomed his helping hand. He mostly cherished the camaraderie he felt when playing the game with his uncles Bill and Bob and their friends in local tourneys and fundraisers, or when playing with his golf “Band of Brothers” Bish, Hoff, Jubes and Dougie. These lifelong friends and former High School teammates would haunt the various courses of NH, trying not to find trouble, but seldom succeeding. When Derek’s health was in serious decline his father, trying to give him an incentive to fight on, promised him a trip to play at Royal St. Andrews Golf Course in Scotland when he got better. It's a comfort knowing that Derek, Grandpa and Uncle Billy get to play there together now while those left behind will need to wait for a later tee time… Those that knew Derek would know that he loved music, music of all kinds. From Rock to Classical, old school Country to Rap and everything in between. He often used lyrics from a song or songs that had touched him when trying to express the depths of his feelings to those that he loved. Under that tough exterior was a very sensitive and sometimes troubled soul. None knew this about him more than his brother Dana, with whom he shared a passion for Heavy Metal music. While Dana sometimes envied his brother’s athletic talents, Derek greatly envied his brother Dana’s musical abilities as a drum and guitar player. It was a joy for Dana to see his big brother at the venues when Dana’s bands were playing around the area. To those of us who were given the gift of Derek in our lives, we will be forever grateful. He was many things - a much loved son, brother, uncle and family member. He loved children (as long as they belonged to someone else!). Derek was quiet, quirky and kind. Reckless himself, he was very protective of those he loved. If you had him as a close friend, you knew that he was loyal and you could count on him to always have your back, no matter the situation. He was compassionate and funny. He was so loved, and loved back unconditionally. Since Derek’s passing, his family members have been told many stories - of how he was the best of friends, that he would help people that he didn’t even know, That parents of his friends, teachers and people around town all loved and thought so highly of him. He touched a lot of people in his short life in a good way because that’s just who he was . He lived life as a champion, not just a participant. Derek’s family would like to express their deep gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated staff of Home Health and Hospice Care of Merrimack for their kind and loving care and support for Derek in his final days at home. They were a true blessing to him and his family and their efforts will be forever appreciated. Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 24th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 10:AM at St. Patrick Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Milford. The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers you please consider making a Memorial Gift in Derek's honor to either the First Tee-New Hampshire Initiative Youth programs, online at "firstteenh.org/donate" or to the Milford Community Athletic Association, PO Box 625, Milford NH 03055 Slainte, Derek...May you go safely.