Jack Derochi

Jack DeRochi, 80, passed peacefully on May 14, surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Born in Ridgewood NJ in 1934, Jack graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1952. He entered Rutgers University later that year, leaving in 1955 to volunteer for the draft. He spent two years in the US Army Signal Corps as a radar repair technician. Upon his separation from the Army, he returned to Rutgers, graduating with a business degree in 1958. While at Rutgers, Jack started as a midfielder on the Scarlet Knights for three years. A talented baritone vocalist, he sang with the Rutgers Glee Club and the University Choir. Upon graduation, Jack joined Purolator Filter Company's International Division. During the next 14 years, Jack worked in export sales and International marketing for several companies. He resided in Germany and Brazil for short periods of time assisting in developing local manufacturing operations. After returning from Brazil, Jack left the International arena and spent the next 22 years working with Factory Mutual, an industrial property insurance company until his retirement in 1994. During this time, he spent many hours coaching youth soccer (mostly for his children) and officiating at various competitive levels. After retirement Jack was an active volunteer with Friendship Trays, Habitat for Humanity, and the Special Olympics for many years. He spent countless hours playing tennis at the Charlotte Indoor Tennis Club with a group of players called the Bad News Bears. Jack enjoyed traveling with his beloved wife, Ina, to different parts of the world, ranging from the Galapagos Islands to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. While in Charlotte, Jack relished Sunday tailgates with friends for all Panther home games and submitting the occasional letter to the editor to the Charlotte Observer. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Primo and Irene. He is survived by his wife Ina Whitley-DeRochi, brother Ted and his wife Lucy. He is also survived by his former wife, Helen, and their children: daughter Lynn Jones and husband Dave, daughter Kerry Kisa and husband Erik, daughter Frances Hernandez and husband Tony, son Jack Edmund DeRochi and wife Jennifer. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren: Taylor and Andy Jones, Kristin and Jackie Kisa, Cameron, Remo, Chris, Tatiana and Claudia Hernandez, and Jack and Rachel DeRochi. Also surviving are Ina's children, Paige Whitley-Bauguess and husband Barry, Chris Whitley, Jill Santa and husband Jim, and grandson Travis Santa. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Habitat for Humanity Charlotte, PO Box 220287, Charlotte, NC 28222 or Friendship Trays, 2401 A Distribution St., Charlotte, NC 28203. Special thanks are given by the family to Dr. Earle F. Burgess and his staff at the Levine Cancer Institute. A visitation with the family will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, at the Palmetto Funeral Home, 2049 Carolina Place Drive, Fort Mill, S.C. A memorial service will follow at 7 p.m. Online condolences can be made at www.palmettofh.com The family of Jack DeRochi is being served by Palmetto Funeral Home of Fort Mill, SC.

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