Derrick Adams Filley

Troy - Derrick Adams Filley, born on March 12, 1924, son of the late Frederick Child Filley (former Rensselaer County District Attorney and New York State Assemblyman) and Jennie Derrick Filley, passed away at his home on February 28th after a long illness. His beloved wife, the former Grace Eiseman, passed away just 4 weeks ago.

He was a graduate of Lansingburgh High School earning letters in baseball, football, basketball, tennis and track. He was a graduate of Williams College and Albany Law School.
Mr. Filley served over 3 years in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corp. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Mr. Filley retired as a financial consultant from Shearson Lehman Hutton in 1988 after 36 years in the investment business. In 1952 he began his career with the local Troy firm of Norman W. Eiseman and Company which became Shearson Lehman Hutton after several mergers.
He was active in the community having participated in many capital fund drives. He was a director of the First Federal Savings Bank which merged with the Albany Savings Bank, trustee of the Kappa Alpha Society of Williams College, director and finance chairman of the Oakwood Cemetery Board, director of the Lansingburgh Boys Club, chairman of the Rensselaer County Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, trustee and former president of the Mary Warren Free Institute, committee member of the Grafton Lakes Park Commission, Charter member and former president of the Investment Association of Northeast New York, member of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, member of the Rensselaer County legislature representing the county on the Capital District Planning Commission, director and former president of the Knickerbacker Playground in Lansingburgh which under his presidency the indoor ice rink was built to promote public skating and director and former president of Vanderheyden Hall in which during his presidency the 150 year old buildings were sold and the program moved to Wynantskill in which many group homes were started, member of the Troy Rotary Club, Tri City Racket Club, and a 50 year member of the Country Club of Troy. 

He enjoyed every aspect of life, especially what nature provided. He played golf, tennis and skied well into his eighties. He would often drive home after a sunny spring day of skiing with his roof down and skis sticking up in the back seat. He especially loved the peacefulness and beauty of sailing on Lake George, Cape Cod and Maine. He was a self-taught musician playing his Benny Goodman tunes on his clarinet and saxophone. He took great joy in watching people of all ages being active and enjoying themselves. Everything in life interested him. Most of all he loved his family and especially got great pleasure watching his grandson, Derrick in his tennis events.

Mr. Filley is predeceased by his adoring wife Grace, brothers, Marcus (former Rensselaer County Family Court Judge) and Frederick and sisters Helen Cole, Freda Louks and Janet Krauss. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Filley-Angle and husband Steve Angle of Troy, grandson, Derrick Filley Angle and wife Conna of Boston and several nieces and nephews.
Services are private at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery Troy.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Derrick Filley to the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, Inc. Attn: Development Office, 301 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12206 . 

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