Boca Raton, FL - James J Devitt, passed away, early Monday Morning, December 10, 2018. A long time Pompano, St. Pete, and Boca Raton, resident, Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, who loved his family and was greatly loved in return.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, of Irish and Polish parents, Jim was a loving son, who cared greatly for his mother, Eleanor, who he nick-named “Honey”. Jim lost his biological father at an early age, so he always stepped up, as the “man in the family” to help and to learn. He gained his entrepreneurial spirit, working with his stepfather, Neal McAughan, who was a wonderful role model for him, where he began to learn trades and ways to support a family.
Jim met the love of his life, Arlene McCarthy, at Hyman Michaels on Michigan Avenue, in the People’s Gas Building, still an iconic landmark in downtown Chicago. Arlene was a receptionist and Jim was a bookkeeper. They created an office scandal when they took a day off, together, to visit Holland Michigan, to see the tulip festival. They enjoyed dates to the Cubs games, Pizzeria Uno, and attending mass together - and ultimately married November 29, 1952, at Saint Dorothy’s Catholic Church.
Immediately after their marriage, Jim was drafted into the US Army, for possible deployment during the Korean War. Fortunately, the Korean War ended shortly after Jim was inducted into the Army, and he spent most of his “two year hitch” stationed in Norfolk, VA. It was during this time of Jim’s stateside military service that their first son, Neal was born, in 1954.
Upon the completion of Jim’s military service, Jim and Arlene returned to the Chicago area, where they built their first home in Hinsdale, IL, a nearby suburb of Chicago. During this time period their second son, Mark, was born in 1956.
Then, following the path of both of their parents down to Florida, Jim and Arlene moved to South Florida in 1958 and never looked back. Jim and Arlene purchased their first Florida home, in Fort Lauderdale. During this time period, Jim and Arlene were blessed with their two lovely daughters, Karen and Monica (The birth years have been carefully omitted, per the wishes of the two lovely daughters.).
Over the years and through raising four children, Jim worked multiple jobs to support his family. He ultimately went back to college and then began his career in the stock market. Known as “Trader Jim” in his career, and throughout his life, he modeled an entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic, which both inspired and provided a tremendous life for his family.
He enjoyed cooking for his family, had a love for pets and birds, particularly in his St. Petersburg home, (where blue herons and pelicans ate out of his hands and walked into his kitchen), and he was an avid news consumer and was a crossword puzzle master.
But most important, he was a loyal, dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, who was deeply loved, and appreciated, and will be greatly missed.
He never stopped saying how much he loved his family and how grateful and lucky he was. We all thank him for that gift of our family bond. A bond that is forever cherished and will never be broken.
Jim was preceded in death by his biological father, James Devitt, his step-father, Neal McAughan, his mother, Eleanor Bradford, his beloved aunts Carol Dooner and Bernice McCarthy, his uncle, Frank Majeski, and granddaughter Candy Shriver.
He is survived by loving wife of 66 years, Arlene, sons Neal Devitt and wife Michelle, Mark Devitt and wife Beth, and daughters Karen Hoak and husband John, Monica Wesolowski and husband George. Grandchildren, Ivy Cote and husband Chris, Matthew Hoak and wife Shellie, Cindy Hulse and fiancé Jeff, Elizabeth Fazekas and husband Andrew, Holly Devitt and fiancé Mike, Laura Wesolowski and Kathy Hoak, and six great grandchildren.
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