David Derosier passed away at home with his wife by his side on April 13, 2026, after a long illness.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on December 21st, 1944, he was the middle of three sons born to Roland A Derosier and Doris (Lebel) Derosier. Dave graduated from high school at La Salle Academy in Providence, RI, in the class of 1961. He was on the tennis and swimming teams, going to the state finals in diving his senior year.

Dave received his Bachelor’s degree in business from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College in the class of 1965. He then entered the family insurance business and also enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, from whom he received an Honorable Discharge in 1971.

In 1967, he married Telisa Villadsen at St Mary’s Church in Orange, Texas, and they returned to New England. They had two sons and a daughter in Barrington, RI, then moved to Swansea, MA. They later lived in Nashua, NH, Brussels, Belgium, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Ontario, Canada, and finally moved to Orange, Texas, in 2005 (two days before Hurricane Rita made landfall).

David loved to travel, and the family took countless road trips, touring the country, in one of the motorhomes he owned over the years. He belonged to The Family Motor Coach Association for many years and formed many lasting relationships and memories in this group.

Dave was an automobile enthusiast. He owned a menagerie of vehicles over the years, including an Austin Mini-Moke, a VW Thing, Sunbeam Alpines and a Tiger, an MG Midget, a Harley, and a restored 1958 Corvette. While living in Brussels, he was an active member of the American Club of Brussels and of A Merry Car Club (owners of antique and classic American cars).

David was passionate about his involvement in the community and helping others. He loved a challenge, and when presented with a problem, he was relentless in his pursuit of a solution. Dave was active in many community organizations, including the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) and the Bridge City Chamber of Commerce, serving as an Ambassador for both Chambers. Dave was a Director for Keep Orange County Beautiful, a board member and Treasurer of Friends of the Orange Depot, and a member of the Gulf Coast Cajuns chapter of the Cajun French Music Association of Louisiana. Dave was a proud Life Member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 311 in Beaumont; a member of the American Legion Post 49 in Orange, the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Orange; and a past member of the Loyal Order of Moose in both Cape Cod and Ottawa Ontario, and the International Lions Club in both Swansea Massachusetts and Nashua New Hampshire.

He wrote for opinion columns in the Orange Leader, the Nepean News in Ottawa, Canada, the International Herald Tribune in Europe, and the Cape Cod Times. He praised people and organizations that did good in the community, and he did not refrain from calling out what he thought were injustices.

Before moving to Orange, Dave started up a telecommunications company in Osterville, Massachusetts, with facilities in Ottawa, Ontario, and Washington, D.C. He sold the company in 2008.

Dave and his wife lived in three countries on two continents during his career as a senior manager in the technology manufacturing world.

Dave was a founder of the Cape Cod Technology Council Inc. and served as Chairman of the Board for the Community Leadership Institute of Cape Cod and the Islands. Both of these programs continue today under the auspices of Cape Cod Community College.

Dave designed and taught courses on computer applications at Lamar State College – Orange and leadership skills training at local plants. He owned OhainWEB.com, a D/B/A of Anomie LLC and an accredited business by the Better Business Bureau, and had been designing and hosting websites since 2010.

Dave left an impression on everyone he met. He loved meeting new people and connecting them to others with like interests and ambitions. Dave never walked away from a challenge and would work tirelessly to help others solve problems. He created a network of people, businesses, and organizations that will continue indefinitely. Every moment was a teachable moment for Dave. No one ever left his presence without learning something new, whether they wanted to or not.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ronnie and Dot Derosier, by his brothers Peter and Paul, and in 1973 by his son Jason Daniel Derosier.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 57 years, his son Reno Derosier, daughter Renee Derosier, granddaughter Danielle Derosier, and grandson David Derosier.

The family would like to extend their immense gratitude to Southeast Texas Hospice for their exceptional service and care. In lieu of flowers, we ask that any donations go to Southeast Texas Hospice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, April23rd, at 10:30am, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Orange, Texas.

Celebration of Life will be held at the Orange Train Depot on May 3rd at 2:00 pm.