Daniel Derek Streeter—known to his family and friends as Derek—was born at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on July 1, 1970, to Catherine Michele (Shelley) Merrick and Daniel David Streeter. His life was cut short on June 22, 2018. At the time of his death, he was visiting Alabama.
Derek attended Our Lady of Malibu School and the Carden School. He was loved by his late grandparents, the Honorable Judge John J. Merrick—a founding father of Malibu—and Roberta Roberts Merrick, and Daniel Streeter Jr. and Emily Petrila Streeter of Texas. His mother Shelley, who predeceased him, was a nationally ranked female surfing legend and was one of the first champion “surfer girls” of the ‘50s and ‘60s.
After his parents divorced, Derek and siblings moved to Sand Point, Idaho, but he returned to Malibu, where he became an accomplished carpenter, according to his family. His ventures took him to various places on the West Coast; of recent, to Oregon, where he lived and worked for several years.
“Derek had a free-spirit nature and a love of the outdoors, enjoying a passion for dirt bikes, the ocean, surfing and The Grateful Dead. At the time of his death, he was trying to start life anew in Alabama,” his family shared.
He is survived by his father, family, numerous friends and his dog, Marley. His ashes will be scattered in the waters off Malibu, “the place he loved the most,” according to a family member.
Editor’s note: This version has been updated from the print edition at the request of the family.