Robert J. Deroy

Robert J. Deroy, 76, of Harrisville, RI, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 24, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Donna J. (Day) Deroy. Born in Nasonville, RI, he was a son of the late William and Pauline (Leduc) Deroy.
Affectionately known to many as Bob, he was a mathematics teacher at North Smithfield High School for 37 years before retiring from there in 2007. He then continued teaching at CCRI for another 10 years before fully retiring. He graduated from Burrillville High School in 1965. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Mathematics Education in 1969 from Providence College and a Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics in 1970 from Rhode Island College. From 1983-1995, he was the Mathcounts team Advisor and led the 1992 RI State Mathcounts team champions to the national competition in Washington, DC.
Bob lived in Burrillville for his entire life. He was a Little League baseball coach and Burrillville junior hockey coach. He was also a volunteer Fireman for the Nasonville Fire Department in his twenties.
Bob had a passion for gardening. Being a schoolteacher allowed him the opportunity to cultivate his vegetable garden each summer vacation. He loved the whole process from preparing the soil, planting seeds, and watching the vegetables grow to final harvest. He always grew more than he needed and frequently gave away part of his harvest.
Bob was also a sportsman. He enjoyed playing and watching tennis and golf. He loved to follow the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins. He most enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play sports and was often seen cheering on the sidelines.
He loved his children and grandchildren more than anything. When they needed babysitting, he watched them. When they needed a ride to practice, he drove them. When they needed help with their studies, he tutored them. He looked forward to holidays and birthdays and cookouts with his family. He also enjoyed being a dog owner.
In addition to his wife Donna, to whom he was married for 50 years, he was the loving father of Alan Deroy and his wife Aparna of Potomac, MD, and Alicia Lambert and her husband Troy of Lincoln. He was the brother of William Deroy of Woonsocket, Jeanne Dorie of Harrisville, and Claire Riquier of Chepachet. He is also survived by 5 grandchildren: Holden, Pallavi, Brielle, Talia, and Eli.
His funeral will be held Monday, June 3, 2024 at 9am from the TUCKER-QUINN Funeral Chapel, 643 Putnam Pike, Greenville, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Philip Church, Greenville. Inurnment will be in St. Theresa Cemetery, Burrillville. Visitation Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 5-7pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Bob's memory to the MATHCOUNTS Foundation, 1420 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, or by visiting mathcounts.org.
Those who touch our lives, stay in our hearts forever.