1909 – 1970 (May 29)

Joseph Francis Derby was born October 29, 1909, in Lawrence, Massachusetts to John and Balbina Bastian. He was baptized November 3, 1909, at Assumption Church, Lawrence, and was confirmed on May 3, 1924, at St. Mary Church there. After completing two years of studies at Lawrence High School, he entered Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, which granted him a high school diploma in 1928. He was received into the novitiate on September 9, 1928. He professed vows on September 10, 1928, and earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova College, Villanova, Pennsylvania, in 1933. He then pursued theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D. C., and was ordained to the priesthood on June 9, 1936. He earned a B. S. in Library Science from Villanova in 1944, an M. S. in Library Science from Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois, in 1954, and an M. Ed. from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, in 1959.

Father Derby was assigned in 1937 to Cascia Hall School, Tulsa, Oklahoma, as teacher and librarian. He was transferred to St. Thomas High School, Rockford, Illinois, in 1942. He was assigned in 1944 to St. Rita High School, Chicago, as librarian, and also taught Library Science during summer sessions at Villanova College. He died on May 29, 1970, at St. Rita High School, at the age of 59. He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.