Derek Oram

Born in Streatham, London on July 11, 1934, son of William Henry Oram and Gertrude Helen (Osborne) Oram, he attended the Wimbledon Junior Technical School in 1949, followed by the Kingston Technical College, where he studied Electronics. He served in the British Army Royal Corps of Signals from 1954-1956 and then attended Southhampton University from 1957-1958. Derek was hired by Texas Instruments subsidiary in Bedford, UK and later accepted a promotion and transfer to their headquarters in Dallas, Texas in 1959. While working there, he earned a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Southern Methodist University in 1962. Dedicating his career to the field of Fire and Smoke detection, his last position prior to his retirement in 1997 was Director of Research and Development of Simplex Time Recorder Co. in Gardner, MA.

A lover of music, and especially passionate for classical music, Derek enjoyed attending Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts and watching his children and grandchildren develop their musical skills over the years. He was an avid tennis player starting as a young child in London, and he was a frequent medalist in singles and doubles tennis at the Massachusetts Senior Games in the early 2000’s. He also enjoyed many years of playing golf with friends.

Derek and his wife spent many happy years at their log cabin in the heart of the NH White Mountains, where there were opportunities for family gatherings that offered many of the activities they loved. Derek enjoyed building structures on their property, including a workshop, a garden shed and a tree house for the grandchildren. He never tired of chopping wood and working the land.

Besides being an avid reader, Derek was a collector of antiquarian books. Travels would often include stops at old book stores looking for treasures. Always ready to lend a helping hand to others, Derek also provided a variety of volunteer services through the Sudbury Senior Center.

With his winning smile and hearty laugh, Derek will always be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years (Carol Galloway Oram), and five children, John Oram (Hamilton MA), Katherine Bini (San Francisco, CA), Clive Oram (Essex, MA), Stephen Galloway (Framingham, MA), Donna Galloway (Cambridge, MA) as well as six grandchildren, Nathan & Jeremy Galloway, Miles & Lukas Oram, Michaela & Gianluca Bini, and has beloved cousin in England, Pam Weaver.

A memorial service is set for Saturday August 3, 2013 at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Sudbury, MA at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Miriam Boyd Parlin Hospice of Wayland MA, or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in his Memory would be appreciated. For more information, consult www.mem.com http://youtu.be/pWpPSK1L-IA