Our Story
Derek was born on August 2, 1990. The Stem family joyously celebrated the arrival of our fourth boy. His brothers, Kyle, Drew, and Keith, welcomed him with open arms. Loving life from the time he could walk and talk, Derek greeted everyone with a contagious smile and energetic personality.
Derek spent his entire life trying to keep everyone happy and cared for. His greatest joy came from being surrounded by brothers and friends, always ready to lend a hand, share a laugh, or offer support when it was needed most. As a child, he was always the life of the party. He had a love for anything with wheels—cars, bikes, tractors, motorcycles, and that passion for riding carried through his life as a symbol of freedom and joy until he passed.
Raising four boys to become responsible men became our purpose as parents. We were committed to providing an environment of love and generosity; our house became the safe haven for our boys’ friends. We were a “normal” family who loved raising our boys, but nothing could have prepared us for the pain and chaos that addiction would bring into our lives.
Derek’s love for pleasing others turned into hardship when he discovered the world of drugs and addiction. He always embraced life with an unstoppable spirit; unfortunately, he embraced the world of addiction with that same passion. Derek began to use marijuana at an early age, which eventually led to his experimentation with opioids. He soon became a regular user, and his world revolved around this drug. His life slowly spiraled into the world of addiction, pulling him further from the person he once was. Despite countless attempts at recovery and many stays in rehab, the grip of drugs held on tight. The pain of his father’s suicide and his own inability to stay sober became too much to bear, leaving him lost in grief and guilt. Our family watched in heartbreak as his spirit deteriorated, torn between hope and helplessness. Finally, when we could no longer stand by and watch him suffer, we came together for a family intervention guided by his addiction therapist. It was a moment of truth and love—raw, painful, and necessary. Knowing that he would be separated from his family, especially his nephew and niece, he went willingly to rehab. From that day forward, something shifted within him. Surrounded by the unwavering support of his family, he began to slowly reclaim his life, one step at a time.
During the three years of his sober journey, Derek devoted himself to helping others find hope and healing through sobriety and faith. His passion for connecting people with sober living and support groups became his purpose. He served as a lifeline to many friends, taking on the role of sponsor as they worked to maintain their sobriety. On July 26, 2019, an impaired driver tragically ended Derek’s life as he was simply making his way to a family dinner with his brothers. He died sober, with a heart full of love for the life he fought so hard to rebuild, and with a spirit dedicated to helping others find their way. For that we are grateful.
Derek’s dream was to give back to the community that supported him in his journey of sobriety. Before his death, he was helping those as they navigated the world of addiction. Our family would like to continue to assist those in the sober community—providing resources, encouragement, and opportunities so that others could find the same hope and strength he did. Through this foundation, Derek’s spirit of love and compassion will continue to shine, reminding us all that recovery is not walked alone.
Memorial Golf Tournament
The next memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Moccasin Run Golf Course on Friday, September 18th. Check back for more information to follow.
Fund Administrators
- Carol Stem
- Kyle Stem
- Drew Stem
- Keith Stem
Donations
CharitySmith accepts donations online or by mail:
By Mail:
Derek’s Dream
CharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation
13100 Filly Lane
Truckee, CA 96161
The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.
For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.