Joseph Paul Derbacher

Joseph Paul (Joe) Derbacher, 98, of Hamden passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026. He was born in New Haven on November 27, 1927 to the late Karl Derbacher, Sr. and Ruth Andersen Derbacher. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara, his daughter, Lisa Matusovich, and his brother, Karl Derbacher, Jr.

Joseph served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954, where he met his lifelong friend Mickey Sutton. He enjoyed being stationed in Germany and loved “Air Force life.” He was part of the first NATO mission in Europe. After leaving the US Air Force, Joseph worked for Western Electric and transitioned to SNET as a stock maintenance manager.

Joseph was heavily involved in his parish, Church of the Blessed Sacrament. He was active in the Holy Name Society Duck Bowling League. Always supportive of his church, he became a Eucharistic Minister and distributed communion at mass and every Friday at Yale New Haven Hospital. He was an advocate and supporter of St. Judes Hospital for Children.

Above all else, Joseph was very proud of his family. He was “Boopa” to his granddaughter Kolby and enjoyed attending her school activities, field trips and watching “his girls” at their dance recitals. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with his son-in-law Robert as they worked on numerous home projects.

Joseph cherished his friends Mickey, Finbar, Joe, Ann, and Dick. He loved attending weekend races with Joe and spoke fondly of them.

Everyone who met Joseph loved him. He was a gentleman, kind, caring and respectful. After he would hang up from his daily morning phone calls with both of his daughters, he would be out and about and could be seen driving throughout Hamden in his Mercedes. When he got home, he would wind down for the day with a CC and ginger and Turner Classic Movies.

Joseph is survived by his daughter, Susan (Ann), his granddaughter, Kolby, his son-in-law, Robert, and his nephews, Karl, Robert, and their families.

Friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial, which will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 14, 2026 at St. Paul VI Parish/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 2819 Whitney Avenue, Hamden. Burial with Military Honors will be at a later date. Donations in Joe’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org/donate. To send a condolence to his family, please see his obituary at: www.beecherandbennett.com.