Scotti Devens

Essex Junction - Scotti Devens, our loving, creative, sassy and beautiful Mother, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 11, 2024. Originally from Queens NY, Scotti graduated Jamaica High School, worked for the Better Business Bureau, was a coat model in NYC and volunteered for Adlai Stevenson. She settled in her beloved Vermont where she started New England Gift and Gourmet. Her lifelong love of animals resulted in STGD, Save the Greyhound Dogs, a non-profit foundation she created 30 yrs. ago, whose mission educated the public about the cruel treatment of greyhound dogs and racing. Her relentless work, lobbying efforts and testimony convinced Gov. Howard Dean and resulted in the Gator Bill; legislation in 1995 that banned Greyhound racing from Vermont and New Hampshire. Scotti was a historian and loved Abe Lincoln, Winston Churchill, the RAF and the Native American Indian. A marvelous cook, she made a mean chili and had every kitchen gadget imaginable. But most of her time was spent on the phone soliciting funds, interfacing with media outlets and supporting the Greyhound Adoption/Rescue organizations nationwide. She is survived by her three children, Ellen Devens, Jinji Willingham, and Jonathan Devens, friends who helped Scotti the last few years, and the Greyhounds she loved and saved.