THOMAS, Derek
Derek Thomas, a former resident of Melbourne Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2023, at the age of 66.
Beloved husband of Patricia C. Blake DDS, formerly of Melbourne Beach, Fla. (and now Tugun Gold Coast); he is predeceased by his brother Gareth and survived by brothers Glyn (Anita) and Julian (Bhunga) and sister Megan (Les), as well as nieces Emma, Naomi, Clarys and Lucy. Derek is also survived by Patricia’s sons Collin and Ian (Tessa) and their children: Sonny, Sullivan, Bronson and Callan.
Derek Martin Wyn Kwaze Yaro Thomas was born on July 8, 1956, in the city of Tema in Ghana. His father, Frank, was a World Bank executive; his mother, Marion, worked as a British Foreign Service secretary. On the day he was born, a local Ashanti chief declared Derek the first-ever baby delivered in Tema’s then new hospital (and gave him his tribal name). Derek spent his childhood in West Africa and Australia (in Townsville and Canberra) although he also attended primary school in Rome, Italy. After stints abroad, living and traveling in Ecuador and the U.S., the young citizen of the world returned to Brisbane to attend the Anglican Church Grammar School, known as Churchie; he later attended the University of Queensland where he obtained a degree in mathematics. Derek’s career as a technologist was focused on the clean energy sector. He is the founder of Windandsea Research and, most recently, Queensland Hydrogen, set up to help advance the Queensland government’s pursuit of fuel-cell vehicles. Prior to that, Derek worked for AG&P, a Manila-based LNG firm. In the 1980s, he ran his own consulting firm advising companies at the dawn of the personal computer boom.
An avid outdoorsman, Derek was often seen with his wife “Patsy” surfing, wind surfing, skiing and snowboarding. He’d most recently taken up backcountry snowboarding in the Rockies, and his passion to return to this sport had helped motivate him, loved ones say, as he courageously battled his illness. Brilliant, kind, tough and determined – Derek often drew these descriptions from friends and colleagues.
A celebration of life will be held in July at Home Beach, North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane. Please email patsyblake@gmail.com for more information. Donations to honor Derek can be sent to the World Food Programme at wfp.org.