Patrick Devine

Edward Patrick Devine, known to all as Patrick, or “Pat”, passed away at 91 years of age on February 7, 2025, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Patrick was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who is survived by his loving wife, Solange Poumakis Devine, his three children, Jim (Elizabeth “Libo”), Dan (Georgiana), and Denise Mahrer (David), his grandchildren, Michael, Debbie, Danielle, Logan (Michaela), Nicholas, Mark, and his great-grandsons, Maxwell and Elliot.

Patrick was predeceased by his parents, Leroy “Sox” and Marion Devine, his siblings, Darlene (Rusty), Marilyn (Richard), Frankie (Jack), Dan “Boomer” (Patsy), Tim (Mona), and Diana (John), and many other family members and dear friends.

Patrick was born into a big Irish-Catholic family on June 6, 1933, on the family farm in Wakonda, South Dakota during the Great Depression. In 1939 when Patrick was 6 years old, the Devine family moved to Troy, Michigan, where he spent his formative years and became a lifelong Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions fan which he passed down to his children and grandchildren. The family then moved to Long Island, New York in 1949.

Patrick graduated from East Islip High School in 1950 and was inducted into the US Army in November 1952. Patrick served in Korea as part of the 2nd Infantry Division until honorably discharged in November 1954. During Patrick’s service to his country, he was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, and National Defense Service Medal.

Patrick and Solange were married in 1955 and shared their love for 70 years. They moved to Palm Beach County, Florida in October 1969 and raised their family in sunny South Florida. Patrick was a bricklayer and stone mason for over 40 years and his legacy of work spanned from Long Island, New York, Palm Beach, Florida, Troy, Michigan, and Tignall, Georgia.

At a very early age, Patrick’s dad, Sox, took him to baseball games, played catch with him and taught him his love for the game. In the summer of 1939, Patrick’s uncle, Jim McManus, and his dad, Sox, took Patrick to Briggs Stadium to watch the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns play baseball. Patrick recalled that Briggs stadium was the most awesome sight he had ever seen. It left a lasting impression on his life. At the game, Dizzy Trout was throwing in the bullpen, so Patrick went down to the bullpen and told Dizzy they needed his dad Sox on his team because he was a great ballplayer. Dizzy opened the gate for Patrick, sat him down and listened to the stories about Sox. In Patrick’s words, “I gave him all I had!”

Patrick shared his love of baseball with his family and friends. He and his teammates were some of the pioneers in the Senior Softball organizations. Over the decades, he and his softball teammates won multiple Senior Softball World Series titles and Senior Olympics gold medals among other national awards. When Patrick was in his 60’s he and his teammates were not allowed to play ball against the 60 and over teams because they were too good and had to play against the younger 50 and older brackets. Patrick was inducted into the Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 1999. Patrick also loved Friday night bowling for close to 40 years with his brother, Tim, his sons, Jim and Dan, his nephew Sean, and other longtime friends.

Patrick had a knack for words and said “in the course of my lifetime, I have met some of the most unusual ‘individuals’, some of which are brilliant, talented, beautiful, humorous, hapless, woe-be-gone, friends and, of course, family.” A very true statement. People loved being around Patrick and they came in all shapes, sizes and from all walks of life. He was a fierce competitor on the ball field, quick-witted, loved to laugh, and a bit feisty at times. He truly lived life to its fullest.

A gathering of family & friends with celebration of life service for Patrick will be held Thursday, February 20, 2025 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Dorsey - E. Earl Smith Funeral Home, 3041 Kirk Road, Lake Worth, FL 33461, followed by a celebration of life service at 5:00 PM.