Peter Edward Derry

Peter Edward Derry, 81, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, died in hospice on Monday, April 24, 2023. His wisdom, guidance and dry wit will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Born on June 22, 1941 in Portland, Maine, Mr. Derry was the fourth child of Margaret Lucille Herrick Derry and Richard Hall Derry. He was educated by the Jesuits at Cheverus High School in Portland, graduating in 1958, and went on to study government at Boston College, graduating in 1962. 

Mr. Derry received his LLB from George Washington University in 1967 and became a member of the DC Bar Association in 1968, the Maryland State Bar Association in 1970 and the Florida Bar in 1985. He established his own firm, Pyne & Derry, P.C., with his friend and mentor John J."Jack" Pyne and practiced law in the Washington, DC area for 45 years.

Mr. Derry, an accomplished golfer who scored at least two holes in one during his career and regularly shot his age or better, was a member of Montgomery Village Golf Course in Maryland and Patriot's Point in Charleston.
 
As avid a reader as he was a golfer, Mr. Derry consistently had three to four volumes in play at any given time. There was Dickens or Hilary Mantel with his coffee and daily pastry, the Federalist Papers or some Shakespeare post-lunch in the red wing chair, and a mystery novel before bed. He was a master of giving the gift of a well-chosen book for every occasion.

Mr. Derry is preceded in death by his parents and by his oldest brother Richard Derry, his sister-in-law Claire Derry, and his brother-in-law Michael O'Shea.

He is survived by Anna Derry of Charleston, SC; his children and their spouses: Susan (John) Pesnichak of Alexandria, VA; Kate (Josh) Dinar of Boulder, CO; and Peter Herrick (Cecilia Menniti) Derry of Charleston, SC. He also leaves behind his four siblings: John (Lois Schiappa) Derry of Sudbury, MA; Tom (Carole) Derry of Lexington, MA; Julie (Derry) O'Shea of Worcester MA; and Susanne (James) Hughes of Harwich, MA. 

Mr. Derry loved being known as "Champa" to his five grandchildren and shared his love of literature with them: Samuel Joseph Derry, 25; Mason Riley Dinar, 17; Levi Derry Dinar, 13; Palmer Janna Derry, 4; and Marley Luna Derry, 2. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, his children's friends and their families.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 27 from 3 pm to 4 pm at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Rd. in Mt. Pleasant, SC, with a memorial service immediately following from 4 pm to 5 pm. A Celebration of Life will continue from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Montclair Clubhouse, Montclair Dr., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to First Tee of Charleston, https://firstteegreatercharleston.org/ways-to-give/donate/ where Mr. Derry was a volunteer. This charitable organization uses golf as a vehicle for empowering kids and teaching them life skills. The family has also suggested memorial contributions be made to Lowcountry Food Bank, https://lowcountryfoodbank.org/donate/.

Memories of Mr. Derry may be shared below.