Barbara Durland Devlin

Barbara Durland Devlin, age 60, died suddenly February 13, 2011, at her home in Chester, CT.Barbara was born on October 26, 1950, in Stamford, CT to Gerret and Elizabeth Durland. She was the youngest of three children, Gerret Durland Jr. of New Mexico, and Jan Howell of Key West, Florida.She lived her early years Darien, CT and Fort Worth, TX, then grew up in Old Saybrook, CT where she married and had two wonderful sons, Don Ayer of Jamaica Plain, MA, and Jake Ayer of Old Saybrook, CT who was recently married to Jen Freberg, also of Old Saybrook.In addition to her mother and sons, Barb is survived by her loving husband, Kevin A. Devlin. Married in 2005, Kevin brought to the family the daughter she had always wanted, Kimberly Yacovou, Kim’s husband Matthew, and their three children Gregory, Cailyn, and Matthew, another adoring son Keith Devlin (recently deceased) along with his wife Karina Kempny Devlin.She enjoyed and was loved by her many nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.A 1969 graduate of Old Saybrook High School, Barbara attended Southern Connecticut State University, Portland College of Fine Art, Lyme College of Fine Art, Big Creek Pottery, and Albertus Magnus, culminating in a BFA. Professionally, Barb spent the last 30 Years in publishing, including nearly 10 years with Shoreline Newspapers, working her way from Sales Representative to General Manager of the Old Lyme Gazette, and the last 20 years with Yale Alumni Magazine. She was one of the first female Rotarians to be chosen to travel abroad. She was looking forward to retiring later this year to begin her second career as an educational paraprofessional working with special needs children.Outside of her love for her family, art was her life-long passion. Her interests focused on pastels, specializing in landscape painting. She enjoyed her time painting in the woods or on the shore as often as time and weather allowed. An elected artist and member of the board of directors of the Essex Art Association, and a member of the Connecticut Pastel Society, her works have appeared in numerous art exhibitions throughout the region.She will be loved and missed dearly by her many friends and family. Visiting hours will be at Swan Funeral Home in Old Saybrook on Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 6–8pm. Donations can be made in her name to Camp Hazen YMCA in Chester, CT, or the Autism Society of Connecticut.