James L. Devito

Lt. Col. (Ret.), USA James Louis Devito, Jim, was the kind of man that Teddy Roosevelt described, "the man who is actually in the arena; who strives valiantly; who errs... because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." He was born on November 29, 1946, the son of Louis and Verona (Budden) Devito. He grew up in Carmichael when it was new and shiny and kids roller skated in the streets and drove their hot rods on those same streets when they got to be teenagers. Hot rods became the first of his great enthusiasms in life, the other being helicopters. He liked things that went fast. And then there was golf... When his country called in 1968, he answered, was selected for Officer Candidate School, trained to fly helicopters and then volunteered as a scout pilot. The scout's mission was to fly as low and slow as possible to search for signs of enemy troops or to find them by drawing fire, to dare greatly and be fearless as hell. And that was perfect for Jim. He made the military his career, first in the army and then full time for the California National Guard, where he retired in 1989. After living around the U.S., overseas, and parts of California, he moved back to Carmichael. He fought valiantly against cancer, passing with peace and dignity on Oct. 26, 2015. He'll join his brothers in arms at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. Jim's great devotion was to his family and friends, the people he loved who so loved him back. He is survived by his mother Verona, wife Gina, daughter Dominique Devito, son Jamie, brother & sister-in-law Vince & Jan, sister Gail Davis, grandchildren Jay Devito, Brittney Devito O'Keefe (Ryan), Kaitlyn Devito (Sam), Zach, Emma, and Hank DeWulf, great grandchildren Sammy, Isabelle, and Eliza, loving nieces, nephews, cousins, stepkids Matt & Molly McGregor, and dear friends Ralph & Teree, Rick & Sally, Rick & Mary, Hendy, and Mike. He was pre-ceded in death by his father Lou, wife Jeni, and brothers-in-law Dan Davis and Spencer Lee. He was never small, cold or timid, and always based his decisions on what was best for others. He lives on in all of us.