Derf's father dies

Richard H. Backderf, 84, father of former Beacon Journal artist John "Derf" Backderf, died July 3. The 1945 South High and 1950 University of Akron graduate was a chemist at the B.F. Goodrich Research Lab in Brecksville for the 36 years till his 1992 retirement.

Richard and wife Mary Anne, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June, wintered in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Son John, a Richfield native and Ohio State grad, is married to Sheryl Harris, a former BJ reporter who became a business writer at the Plain Dealer. Derf is the cartoonist for "Derf City." In 2010 Derf received a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Lit, Cleveland's literary society. Derf was a staff artist-cartoonist for the Plain Dealer from 1986-89 and for the Akron Beacon Journal from 1990-2000.

Services for Richard Backderf will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Billow Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery.

Click on the headline for the obituary in the BJ.