I will miss this fine man. Irving Dermer was one of the most effective, conscientious, and professional real estate brokers that I ever knew in N.C.

Rest in peace, friend.

I was opening up a bottle of Ragu tomato sauce when Irv stopped me.”Do you really want to eat that?”he asked. I said, “I guess so.” Then he asked, “Want me to show you how to make a really good tomato sauce?” I said, “Sure.”
Here’s what happened next:
He chopped up some onions and garlic and put them in a pan to lightly brown. “Make sure you don’t burn the garlic and you chop it really fine nobody wants to bite into a big piece of garlic,” he said. Then he opened up a few cans of whole tomatoes and squeezed the tomatoes into the pan, Then he added basil and oregano. He told me the trick is to add more basil than oregano and to let it simmer.
I’ve been using his recipe for over 40 years and every time I make the sauce I think of my dear friend Irv.
Irv loved cooking, fishing, music, his friends but most of all his beautiful family.

Sarabeth, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Such a sad time, Irv was the best, the two of you were head over heels with each other, what a great couple, he will always live in your heart and be with you forever!! RIP IRV
I'm here for you!!

Irving Zachary Dermer passed away peacefully at home on the morning of July 3rd. He was born in Brooklyn NY on September 19, 1950, the first child of Myra and Milton Dermer. He later grew up in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York, on his parents’ dairy farm. As a youth he developed a love for cooking. He studied hotel technology and food and beverage management and worked as a gourmet chef, and later managed two hotels in Ithaca, NY. He opened his own New York Style delicatessen in Ithaca and later moved to Durham to operate a delicatessen. For the last 13 years he was a real estate broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Durham. Irving made an indelible impression on anyone he came in contact with. A big-hearted, fun loving, generous man, he touched the hearts of all who knew him. His love of boating and fishing was second only to his devotion to family. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sarabeth, his daughter Shawna, his sons Benjamin and Robert, a sister Jean Dermer and lifelong friend Rhea Cohen. His beloved brother David predeceased him. A memorial service will be held at the Unity Spiritual Life Center at 2604 Carver St. in Durham on Wednesday July 9th at 1:00 pm. Afterwards friends will be received at his home. Donations may be made in his name to the Durham Rescue Mission or the Duke Home Care and Hospice.

Sarabeth……my lifelong friend…my sincere condolences on Irv's passing. I know that he is probably hanging out with Bill in the spirit world. Bill will take care of him. Love & Peace to you and your children. xoxo