Francis DeVito

Francis Anthony DeVito "Frank" passed away suddenly in his home in Astoria, NY on Thursday, February 13, at the age of 80. Francis was the son of Anthony DeVito and Charlotte E.(Waters) DeVito. He was born on August 23, 1944 in Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts, where his mother and older brother Peter were living while their father was deployed with the US army in Italy. Francis is survived by his brothers, Peter B. DeVito of Green Valley, Arizona and Charles E. DeVito (SueAnn Stiles DeVito) of Rochester, New Hampshire; his sister Mary Lamothe of Astoria, New York; his nieces and nephews, Michael Lamothe (Melissa Lamothe), Sophia DeVito (Griffin Church), Dana Lozano (Melvin Lozano), Anthony DeVito and his great-nieces and nephews, Lily Lamothe, Nicholas Lozano, Ursa Joy and Francis "Frankie" Lozano.
Francis grew up in Astoria, where his family moved after his father returned from WWII. He attended PS 84, and then deployed to Viet Nam with the army, where he was quickly recruited to work for Air America as a helicopter mechanic in Thailand, where he spent the remainder of his service. His Air America buddies knew him for his high spirits and sense of adventure. While in Thailand, he obtained a bear cub which he raised and eventually released back into the wild. He kept in touch with his friends from that time throughout his life, attending in Air America reunions and visiting their homes around the country.
After the war, Francis worked for a time as a helicopter mechanic in Alaska, before returning home to Astoria and working for 35 years as a member of Steamfitters Local 638.
Francis loved to travel, and was always ready for adventure. He knew the city as few do, and delighted in finding and sharing little-known restaurants in many of the city's neighborhoods. A trip anywhere in the city with Francis was always full of surprises and fun. He loved sports, camping, playing with his nieces and nephews and driving his blue 1964 Porsche 356 out to Long Island.