Patricia "Pat" Derby

Patricia “Pat” Derby, age 99, passed away on March 15, 2026. Born on April 12, 1926, Pat was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and later resided in Atlanta, Georgia. A beloved presence in the lives of many, she will be remembered with deep respect and lasting affection.

From an early age, Pat’s humorous and social spirit was shaped by an intimate family unit in Brooklyn, where her grandparents served as building superintendents—an environment that brought her into daily connection with neighbors and friends. She was the youngest of two children, with an older brother, John, and she carried that early sense of community with her throughout her life. Pat also enjoyed going to the beach, especially Manhattan Beach, a simple pleasure that remained a fond touchstone in her memories and stories.

Pat excelled at secretarial school, a foundation that launched her first professional role and set the course for a distinguished working life. She was hired as one of the first employees of the successful Wall Street firm Brown Brothers & Harriman, and later worked during the era that included the formation of DLJ. Her competence, discretion, and steady presence made her a trusted professional in demanding environments.

In time, Pat relocated to Atlanta when close friends—who were starting a hairdressing business—invited her to join them, and she worked as their secretary. She later served as executive secretary at Fuqua Industries to philanthropist Mr. Fuqua, contributing in her own essential way to work that helped grow Atlanta’s political environment and supported local businesses, including Piedmont Hospital.

Pat’s life was also defined by the family she built and embraced. She had many members of an adopted family, including a mother figure, Veronica “Roni” Panico, and “brothers” John Panico, Bobby Panico, and Stephen Panico. She was also cherished by 11 “nieces and nephews,” each of whom experienced her warmth, loyalty, and steadfast care in a way that made family feel expansive and enduring.

Adventurous by nature, Pat found joy in everyday pleasures and in wide horizons alike. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and watching tennis. She was part of a gardening and interior decorating club with Jim Lewis, which branched into an additional traveling club—through which she traveled around the world with friends, creating stories and friendships that enriched her life and theirs.

Pat’s faith and sense of responsibility to others was evident in her community involvement. While living in New York, she was active in the Methodist Church of Brooklyn. She volunteered in support of visiting nurses in Brooklyn through fundraising, and she supported St. Judes Children’s Hospital—quiet acts of generosity that reflected her values and her compassion.

Patricia “Pat” Derby will be remembered as humorous, adventurous, and beloved—someone whose professionalism, friendships, and chosen family formed a life of meaning and connection. Her legacy lives on in the many people who were grateful to know her, work with her, travel with her, and call her family.