Meet Dermot

Dermot Jones was born and raised in East Oakland, where his earliest memories were shaped by working alongside his father, a general contractor. From the time he was just two years old, Dermot was learning tools, trades, and tenacity.

Diagnosed at a young age with Sickle Cell Anemia—a serious medical condition that threatened to severely restrict his life—Dermot decided early on that his condition wouldn’t dictate his future. Despite the challenges that come with Sickle Cell, he has managed to live a full, semi-normal life—traveling, holding down several careers, and living well beyond the expectations doctors once gave him.

Over the years, Dermot explored a wide range of interests and hobbies. He served as president of a car club, worked in armed security and fugitive recovery, spent time riding motorcycles, took flight lessons, and built a successful business from the ground up. No matter what he took on, the same mindset followed: If I want to do it, I will.

Eventually, when the risk of his last job started putting too much strain on home life, his wife suggested he find something safer. That’s when a friend’s excitement about beekeeping sparked Dermot’s curiosity. He dove in—reading The Practical Beekeeper by Michael Bush, watching hours of YouTube, and soaking up every bit of information he could find online. That curiosity led him to Mt. Diablo Beekeepers Association. He figured he’d attend just one meeting to see if it was a good fit—or if he’d be better off learning by trial and error.

To his surprise, the group was warm, welcoming, and inviting. That one meeting turned into a membership—and Dermot has been an active member every year since 2013.