Philip Anthony DeVita

Philip A. DeVita of Mount Dora, Florida passed away on Thursday, February 2, 2023. He was 88. He was born in the Bronx, NY to John Joseph and Esther DeVita, who preceded him in death. As a young man he was a successful Golden Gloves boxer. In 1951, Phil joined the US Navy Airforce as a blue shirt on the flight deck of the Lake Champlain and proudly served his country in the Korean War. After his Navy service, he worked as a stage manager for NBC, working on several major Broadway shows, including Hello Dolly, Jackie Gleason and Perry Como shows. He also worked as a stage manager for the World's Fair in 1963 and built the Texas pavilion. He moved to South Florida in 1964 and relocated to Apopka, Florida in 1972, where he operated the family business, Coral Hills Farm until 2003.
Phil loved horses, as a pioneer in the industry, he started buying, training and selling show horses. During this time, he and his son Philip, owned and operated DeVita Sales, where they designed, built and sold 15 horse semi-trailers from 1980 until 1994.
Phil competed successfully at major horse show events throughout the Country. His career path led him to become a Registered Judge. He also enjoyed teaching his trade to those in the business and learner judges. He was affectionately known as "Big Phil" and "Papa Phil". He was a mentor and father figure to so many people and positively impacted so many lives. His second love was the flying and racing of his pigeons, which was his childhood hobby that stayed with him his entire life. And he was a die hard "Yankees" fan.
He was a member of the United States Equestrian Federation for over 50 years and received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He was also a member of the US Hunter & Jumper Association, was past President of the Central Florida Hunter & Jumper Association, was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora and the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Estelle Mancini. Phil is remembered and will be dearly missed by his wife and partner of 34 years, Jill; sons, Philip John DeVita (Mary Beth) and Travis DeVita, all of Apopka; daughters, Deborah Ann Omerovic (Selmir) of Orlando, FL and Denise DeVita of Loxahatchee, FL; sister, Angela Pear (Meir) of Sunrise, FL; grandchildren, Anthony Joseph DeVita, Philip John DeVita, Jr., Joseph John DeVita, Alecia Damico, Deidra Slachter and William Gallagher; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; nephew, Vincent Mancini (Patti) of Hartsdale, NY; and especially his service dog, Lucy.
A memorial ceremony will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora on Monday, March 27 at 2:00 pm
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation,
2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306; www.t2t.org/donate
Condolences, memories and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.