Robert McDevitt

McDevitt, Robert
Oct. 24, 1929 - Feb. 18, 2013
Robert was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio on October 24, 1929 to Ruth and Jay McDevitt, long since deceased. Bob was 83 when he died after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease and Cancer. He was predeceased by his only sibling, Eleanor Kilroy, in 2012. He is survived by his loving wife Connie and his daughter Susan Best, son-in-law Jon Best and beloved granddaughter, Kathryn Best of Scotch Plains, NJ. He is also survived by a son, James McDevitt. Bob spent most of his life in his home town of Mt. Vernon and attended Mt. Vernon High School, and then on to Ohio Wesleyan for his BA where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. He then went on to graduate at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he received his JD degree in 1954. Immediately after law school he was inducted into the US Army and for the next two years he worked in the Battalion Office at Fort Knox, KY. When his service was over, he returned to Mt. Vernon and went into law practice with his father, Jay McDevitt, and Charles Ayers, both of whom later left to become Knox County Court of Common Pleas Judges. Other partners were added. While living and working in Mt. Vernon, he served on the Board of Directors for the former Knox County Savings Bank, the Mr. Vernon Public Library and was a member of the Ohio Bar Association. He was a Mason and a Shriner and in 2006 was made a life-time member of the Mount Zion Shrine in Mt. Vernon. He also supported the Shriners in Sarasota. He was a former member of the Mt. Vernon Gay Street Methodist Church. He also had a membership at the Mt. Vernon Country Club. At the end of 1982, he sold his law practice to his then partners and moved to Sarasota. He was recruited immediately as a Vice President in the Trust Department of what is now the Sun Trust Bank. He worked there a number of years before retiring a second time. After retiring he became a volunteer at SCORE and was elected recording secretary.
He later also volunteered at Selby Library. Bob was well-known for his sophisticated wit and his never-ending sense of humor. Everyone liked to be near him as they didn't want to miss a word. Paul Lynde, the famous comedian and also a native of Mt. Vernon, once offered him a job as a writer after hearing him speak. He and his wife spent their retirement traveling in Europe on land tours, and then progressed to cruising across the Atlantic many times and visiting countries around the Mediterranean. After a long cruise to South America, their last cruise, they concentrated on PT for Bob. He was a really genuine person and never lost the values he learned growing up in the Great Depression era. A one of a kind! At Bob's request, there will be no services.
Covell Crematory is handling the cremation and his remains will be in the Sarasota National Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to The NeuroChallenge Foundation, 5880 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238, Attn: Jennifer Williams or to Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.