Derek W. Coviello

Derek Whitaker Coviello, 48, passed into memory Saturday, July 24, 2021. He is predeceased by maternal grandparents Marie and Clair Whitaker, and by paternal grandparents Margaret and Owen Coviello. Derek is survived by his mother Pamela Coviello (ptr. Wayne Sherwood), his father Ted Coviello (m. Verlee), his brother Garth Coviello (m. Karlie) and two adoring nieces Grace and Avianna Coviello who thought he was the best jungle gym ever. Derek is also survived by maternal aunt Candace Fleece (m. Lawrence), paternal aunts Carol Larsen (m. Craig) and Donna Kraecker (m. John), maternal first cousins Lindsay Rentschler (m. Mark) and Jesse Fleece, paternal first cousins Teresa Kraecker, Andrea Larsen (m. David), Brian Kraecker, Alex Larsen, and Josh Larsen, and step siblings Leslie Stahl and Scott Wood. Derek joined this world in Casper, Wyoming and lived for a brief time in Vancouver, British Columbia, near his paternal grandparents and his Coviello cousins, before moving to Ithaca, NY to live close to his maternal grandparents. There, Derek developed a strong relationship with his grandmother, who passed in 2001 with Derek at her side. During his adolescent time in Ithaca, Derek gained stepfamily members and an additional home in Greene, NY. Derek spent time in Lakeville, CT where he attended The Hotchkiss School, and in Geneva, NY, where he attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Derek was married for many years, moving with his wife to Long Beach, California, where he earned a degree from the Univ. of Calif. film and theater arts program before returning east to Binghamton, NY, and then on to East Berne, NY. Although Derek had no children, he had a reservoir of love that overflowed to his nieces. Derek spent his last days in Greene. Though Derek passed from this life, he will continue to thrive in the memories of his friends, former teammates, and relatives for the multitudinous ways he positively affected their lives, and for the variety of craftmanship he left behind. Those who knew Derek were continually impressed by his robust intellect and talent across nearly every area of life. Naturally gifted in all academic subjects, in a variety of artistic disciplines, and in all his athletic pursuits, friends and relatives often sought Derek’s participation, advice, knowledge, and high-quality workmanship. That demand suited Derek fine, as he regularly found more pleasure helping others than helping himself. Accordingly, Derek will be remembered when we see that roof he taught us to build, when we attempt to recreate the deliciously flavorful meals he seemingly innately knew how to prepare, when we can’t find the words of expression that so easily flowed to his tongue or pen, when his art on our walls draws our glance, when we reflect upon the role he played in our individual growth and successes, when we reminisce about his plays on the ice rink, baseball field, or football field that contributed to the team’s success, or when we simply cannot find company to match his uniquely intelligent, pleasant, and witty disposition. Derek will be missed and carried with us. Derek will be interred privately at Trout Creek Cemetery. A memorial celebrating Derek’s life will also be held privately.