Broomfield’s Very Own Valentines Paul and Martha Derda Share Their Love Story

By Bette Erickson

In longtime Broomfield residents Paul and Martha Derda’s orbit, many people know them as a fun, caring, and respectful couple. And so when many of us think of Valentines, the Derdas come to mind. Married some 61 years ago, the couple exudes the happiness and hopefulness of young children. You’d be hard pressed to find other long-married couples as positive as Paul and Martha.

When asked about the secret to their happy marriage, the couple agrees it takes three things: prayer, hard work, and a willingness to inspire others.

“By inspiring others, you become a happier person,” Martha explained. “Take life seriously but have fun and have a sense of humor.”

Paul, with tongue firmly in cheek, says the real secret to a happy marriage is knowing that although your wife may ask for your opinion ... that doesn’t necessarily mean she wants your opinion.

“We’re very blessed to have a wonderful family, too,” Paul adds. That family includes two adult daughters (Debra and Denise and their spouses), five grandchildren, and a 3-year-old great-granddaughter, with another on the way.

Since moving here from Chicago 44 years ago, the couple have been inspirational in shaping all it is we love about Broomfield. Paul, now 81-years old, served as Broomfield’s director of parks and recreation from 1978 to 2002 and was a key decision-maker in the implementation of Broomfield’s first Master Plan. It was Paul, alongside our community’s first city manager, George DiCiero, and other city leaders that designed parks to be within walking distance of every young person, without needing to cross a major artery.

Others might know Paul as the namesake for Broomfield’s award-winning recreation center, the Paul Derda Recreation Center (PDRC). He also MC’d numerous city and county events, including the annual holiday tree-lighting ceremony, the Great American Picnic-Fourth of July event and the famed Broomfield Days celebration.

His wife Martha, 80-years old, is equally distinguished, having served two-full terms from 2009 to 2017 on Broomfield’s City Council representing Ward 5.

The couple met and married while still in college at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Martha was a cheerleader at a rival high school while Paul played football. He hadn’t met her yet when she was crowned Homecoming Queen out of a student class of 900 at Topeka High School. They had planned a honeymoon road trip to Lake of the Ozarks, but a day before the wedding Paul’s car broke down. So, they borrowed Martha’s mom’s car and drove only to Kansas City to honeymoon instead.

To this day, they explained, they’ve still not visited Lake of the Ozarks.

Bette Erickson writes about people, places, and events. Contact her at bette_erickson@hotmail.com.

Paul and Martha Derda sing, “Happy Trails to You” while leaving the 2021 Broomfield Days festivities. Courtesy photo

Enjoying a Christmas celebration, Paul and Martha Derda beam while holding their great-granddaughter, 3-year-old Maddie. Courtesy photo