Derek Johnstone Smith, 64, passed away on the 3rd of May 2026. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Raffaella; his daughter, Rebecca, whom he called Rebel; his older brother, Steve Smith; his sister-in-law, Kathy Smith; and his nephews, Sol Smith and Darrell Smith.

Born on the 25th of January 1962, he was proudly Scottish and grew up between Scotland, Japan, Spain, and France. Derek lived most of his life at sea and in yacht engine rooms. He studied Marine Engineering and served in the British Merchant Navy. Some of his major accomplishments include working aboard the Rosenkavalier as Chief Engineer, crossing the Atlantic Ocean aboard Invader in the late 1990s, and being served a beer by Eric Clapton at a small pub in the Caribbean.

Derek lived by the mantra, “Adapt, improvise, overcome.” He loved the art of slow living: cooking his signature Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino while listening to Stevie Nicks and sitting outside in good weather with a cigarette. Derek was an avid reader and, in his younger years, loved photography. He was a polyglot and loved telling stories about all the people he met throughout his life around the world.

Derek will be remembered as someone who had faith in others and always had time for a good chat, whether with friends or strangers.

To honor Derek, the family welcomes donations in his name to one of the charities close to his heart:

-The Salvation Army or your local homeless shelter

-Susan G. Komen (breast cancer organization)

-Abandoned Pet Rescue or any other no-kill shelter

-The Ocean Cleanup

Arrangements entrusted to Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care