Derwin Martin Hyde

Derwin Martin Hyde, Jr. was born in Hagerstown, MD on September 21, 1943, where his father, a pilot, was stationed during World War II. He is the oldest son of Virginia Marie Hickey Hyde and Derwin Martin Hyde, Sr. He was raised in Westwood, Massachusetts and lived in Newton, MA for the last 24 years.
Derwin studied engineering and English Literature at Cornell University, where he earned his Bachelors degree in 1967. At Cornell Derwin worked as a research assistant in the neurophysiology laboratory of Professor Frank Rosenblatt, where he helped develop the Perceptron computer, an important milestone in the field of artificial intelligence. He earned graduate degrees in literature from San Francisco State and the University of Buffalo. His early career was in technical editing for Horizon House, where he edited the earliest compilation of commercial satellites, Worldwide Communications Satellites Systems. Later he became the Senior Editor at Factory Mutual Engineering, publishing numerous journals and educational materials on fire safety and building integrity.
Always a man of eclectic interests, Derwin was particularly involved with the folk music movement, and owned and played a series of classic Martin Guitars, finally designing and having built a custom guitar by the lutier Sauvé. An accomplished photographer, his early large-format black and white works were exhibited at shows in the Boston area, and his perfectly proportioned Motif #1 seascape was a perennial favorite at the local photo galleries.
For nearly two decades, Derwin suffered from severe back pain. During this period he turned his talents to learning computer construction, programming and networking, as well as becoming involved in the schooling of his three daughters. He was a class parent at Cabot School and later at Newton North, where he brought his interest in science and the arts to those classes. He also photographed, videotaped and provided documentation of many years of the lives of Newton students, right through their pictures in the popular photo shoot at the Newton North post-prom parties.
An avid bicyclist, Derwin was a member of the Crack of Dawn group as well as the Wednesday Wheelers club. A fifty mile bike trip was just a warm-up for Derwin. At one point he rode the Pan Mass Challenge - a century ride of 100 miles from Boston to Provincetown.
The many strains of Derwin’s life came together over the last five years when he became Director of the Web Development Core at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He is survived by his children, Rebecca Cavallaro, Samantha Hyde, Martine Hyde, son-in-law Brian Cavallaro, two grandchildren Amelie and Maxine, his brother, Brian Hyde, and his fiancée, Kate Adamala.
He will be dearly missed by all who have known him.
A memorial service will be held on Sat Oct 9 at 11 AM in the Newton Cemetery Chapel 791 Walnut St. Newton Centre.
In lieu of flowers memorials in his name may be made to the Mid Century Fund c/o The Boston Foundation, 75 Arlington St. 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02116.To share a memory of Derwin please visit www.eatonandmackay.com

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