Age 23. 20 Faneuil Road, Waltham, MA. Born on 6/03/1919, in Waltham. Died of burns (death certificate). Assistant treasurer and general manager of a family business, F. W. Derbyshire, Inc. (watchmakers' lathes), of Waltham. In a mixed-gender foursome with his companion Miss Marjorie Thompson, age 22, of Austin, MN (lodging in Belmont, MA), a student at Bryant & Stratton Commercial School, Boston, injured, also a second couple, Charles Hirtle, age 26, of Belmont, and the latter's fiancée Miss Sirkka Lindgren, age 22, of Allston (Boston), MA, both dead. "News of the first Waltham fatality in the tragedy came via police teletype with Waltham authorities receiving the message to notify the family of...Robert McCune Derbyshire..." (Waltham News-Tribune, 11/30/1942). Lone party survivor Miss Thompson (Born 5/07/1920. Died as Marjorie T. Hentschel on 11/01/2001, age 81. Last residence Satellite Beach, FL) owed her life to the fact that she had left the others to visit the ladies room. Latter was reported in the Waltham News-Tribune, 11/30/1942, as, "...burned and seriously ill." His remains were identified at Southern Mortuary, Boston. Was single. Was tall and thin (WWII draft registration, October '40: 6' 1," 155 lbs.). Youngest of five Grove fire victims taken from the "Watch City" Hub suburb of Waltham (also Miss Grace Evelyn Brown, age 25, Mr. and Mrs. Felix and Helen Cafarella, ages 28 and 26, and Mrs. Mary J. Duggan, age 26, all patrons). Parents Mr. and Mrs. Frederick W. and Jessie (McCune) Derbyshire, same address. Burial at Mount Feake Cemetery, in Waltham, the lone club casualty interred at Mount Feake Cemetery. Middle name McCune.

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