Derek James Tumolo, 43, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes at his home on June 30, 2026.

Derek was born on December 15, 1982, in Morristown, New Jersey, to Jean Smalley and Bartley Tumolo. He was raised in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, with his two younger brothers, Todd and Ben. From an early age, Derek gathered a wealth of knowledge, and you could always find him reading books. In 2005, he graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey with a degree in Computer Science. Derek loved city living. After graduation, he embraced that passion and pursued varying professional experiences in New York City, Washington DC, Seattle, and Southern California. He worked as a product

manager with start ups and leading technology and gaming companies.

Ultimately, Derek settled in Bozeman, Montana, to be close to his brothers and enjoy all the beauty the state has to offer. Derek shared an extraordinary bond with his brothers. The three Tumolo brothers were an inseparable trio. No matter how far their paths or travels took them, or how many disagreements surfaced during a game of Settlers of Catan, they remained each other's constant.

Throughout his life, Derek never lost sight of his roots, and he always maintained his childhood, high school, and college friend groups. He fostered those connections through late-night gaming sessions, regular virtual hangouts, annual ski trips, and in-person visits. Derek played a vital role in connecting friends and being the common thread in creating a larger fabric of community. It is through this community of friends that he met his beloved partner Julie. Starting in 2022, Derek and Julie took their professions on the road and embraced a nomadic lifestyle for the next two years. Together, they traveled to and lived in numerous countries including France, Vietnam, Italy, Barbados, and Spain, always helping each other not to look like tourists. His favorites of the many places they traveled to were Paris, Hanoi, and Venice Beach, California.

Julie and Derek moved to Bozeman, Montana, in 2024, where they continued to build their lifetogether. They fostered numerous kittens through Heart of the Valley Shelter. They adopted two of their foster kittens, Poppy and Zoë, who adored Derek. Inspired by their travels around the world, an invitation for dinner always included a culinary journey around the world in the form of a new recipe Derek wanted to try, as well as meticulously crafted cocktails. In Bozeman, Derek—a lifelong soccer player—joined not one but two local teams, embraced his love for good food and coffee at his favorite local spots, and became a loving uncle to his nephew, “kleiner Mann” Emil. Derek loved running and snowboarding, and he never shied away from trying new adventures, like ice climbing with his brother Todd. When his adoring mom Jean visited Montana to see her boys over the holidays, you could always count on Derek to bring the most unusual bottle of wine and his legendary green bean casserole to the holiday dinner.

Derek was genuine, curious, and even-keeled. He had a remarkable mind and was wicked smart. Even in kindergarten, he started a computer club with a group of friends. When helping his brother Ben with homework at a young age, you may have heard Derek explain an equation, followed by the wonderfully helpful Derek-advice of “you just have to do it.” He had a deep wit with words that made him lethal at Scrabble, and he would have preferred to review this obituary for grammatical and spelling errors. Derek loved board and video games as a kid, and as an adult, he built them. His incredible intelligence, creativity, and imagination inspired him to create complex video games, which didn’t stop at a beautiful design—they were also fun to play. Derek loved thinking analytically about how pieces fit together—whether it be in a game or in life—and took great joy in making those puzzles work. He had a unique ability to get to the core of any problem and see things clearly. 

Above all else, Derek was a caretaker at heart. Those around him counted on his steady guidance, wisdom, and support, and he always approached the world with compassion over judgment. Though he left this world far too soon, leaving an immeasurable void in the hearts of those who loved him, Derek lived life to the fullest. More than that, he inspired those around him to do the same: embrace life fully and make every day count. Derek is survived by his partner Julie Wittman; his parents Jean Smalley and Andrew Schenkman; his brothers Todd (Megan English) Tumolo and Benjamin (Marie-Luise) Tumolo; his nephew Emil; countless extended family members and lifelong friends; and Julie and Derek’s cats Poppy and Zoë.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 13, 2026 at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 S. Finley Ave, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 from 3:00 - 7:00pm. Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, 11:00am at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to World Central Kitchen in memory of Derek. He loved good food and this donation will help share his joy of food with the world. Honor Derek in your life by learning and enjoying a new recipe with friends and family.