Robert Devine

Robert “Bob” Devine, a larger-than-life husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2026 at the age of 87. He was born on October 29, 1938 in New York.

Bob came from humble beginnings and built a successful international company from the ground up. He was enormously proud of what he accomplished, but work was never what defined him. Rather, his success gave him the ability to do what came most naturally to him: taking care of people. Bob was generous to a fault, not only with money, which he often gave quietly, but with his time, his advice, his connections and his friendship.

Bob had an extraordinary gift for people. Everywhere he went, he knew everyone - from the owner of the restaurant to the busboy - and he didn’t just know their names; he knew their stories. He was endlessly curious about people and somehow made everyone feel as though they were part of his world.

And what a world it was.

During his bachelor years on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, most nights Bob could be found holding court at a front table at the legendary Elaine’s, surrounded by the writers, actors, musicians and assorted characters who made the restaurant famous. Monday nights were reserved for the China Club, the celebrity-packed nightclub that became one of New York’s defining scenes of the 1980s and ’90s. Put Bob in a room filled with famous people and, within an hour, you would somehow be convinced that he was the most famous person in that room.

Bob and Pamela had been friends for more than a decade before friendship eventually became courtship. When timing and circumstances finally aligned, they married on September 19, 1992, bringing together a big, wonderfully unconventional family and their children, Linda Buschmann (Robbie), Bobby Devine, Amy Setchen (Jason), Sarabeth Smith (Bart) and Jeffrey Nalven.

Nothing meant more to Bob than his family. He was extraordinarily close to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and made a point of having his own relationship with each of them. Whether it was texts with the older ones, advice and time spent together, or younger grandchildren running through the house, Bob was deeply present in their lives and had an enormous influence on them. Being PopPop was one of his greatest joys. He was a proud grandfather to Meghan Verhoye (Charlie), Brandon Buschmann, Keane Smith, Declan Smith, Brooke Setchen, Wesley Nalven, Blake Nalven and Summer Nalven and great-grandfather to Caroline and Garrett Verhoye.

Bob was especially devoted to his son Bobby, who was born with special needs. That devotion grew into years of advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and a deep involvement with YAI, the organization and community that became an important part of Bobby’s life.

In 1997, Bob and Pam moved to Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Florida, drawn in no small part by Bob’s lifelong love affair with boats. One boat was rarely enough. There always seemed to be several, something to tinker with, something to fix, and another trip to the Bahamas on the horizon. Boats weren’t simply a hobby for Bob; they were another way of bringing people together.

His love of boating, coupled with his deep patriotism, eventually led him to the National Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce. As was usually the case with Bob, an interest became an involvement, an involvement became friendships, and friendships became a community. He helped create a golf fundraising event that brought together his Admirals Cove and Navy SEAL Museum worlds and forged friendships that would last the rest of his life.

Bob loved a good time, a good story and a room full of people. His signature drink was the appropriately named “Devine Wine”, tequila and water, no ice, served in a wine glass so that, at least theoretically, it passed for white wine. Those who knew Bob may debate how often anyone was actually fooled.

But beneath all the fun was an extraordinarily generous man. He helped people quietly, offered advice freely, opened doors, made introductions and took care of those he loved. His circle was enormous because Bob never seemed to distinguish much between family, old friends and new ones. If he cared about you, you were simply one of his people.

Perhaps because Bob lived with such enormous energy, those who loved him somehow believed he might just live forever. It is difficult to imagine a party, a boat, a dinner table, or life itself, without him at the center of it.

A quiet goodbye would never have suited Bob Devine. His family will celebrate him exactly as he would have wanted: with a huge party, plenty of laughter, plenty of stories (some of which probably should not be repeated) and all the people he loved gathered together. Date and details to come.

There will never be another Bob Devine. So pour yourself a glass of Devine Wine and tell a good story.

Donations can be made in his memory to:

YAI

https://www.yai.org/get-involved/donate

Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce

https://www.navysealmuseum.org/donate-now

Admirals Cove Foundation

https://givebutter.com/26-27SeasonofGiving