Stephen Walter Devine

Steve was born on May 30th, 1948 in Norwood, Massachusetts to Stephen Patrick Devine and Marie Monteith Devine. He attended school in Massachusetts and Maine before graduating in 1966 from Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut. The eldest of four children, family members often turned to Steve for his sage, measured advice.

Following high school, Steve enlisted in the Marine Corps and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He received the Navy & Marine Corps Medal with Combat Valor for his service.

After Vietnam, Steve returned to Maine to study law. He graduated from the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (now USM) and went on to earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Maine School of Law. Steve practiced law in Portland, working in the Cumberland County District Attorney's office as well as in private practice as a trial lawyer in both civil and criminal defense cases.

When he wasn’t working, Steve was an avid sailor. He served as a crewmember on the sailboat "Celebration" during Antigua Race Week in 1986, taking home the third-place prize in Cruising Class.

Steve met Sue Knizeski at an office Christmas party in 1985. The two recognized they were kindred spirits and followed up the holiday party with a dinner date. They married the following August, and had two daughters, Amelia and Clare.

After becoming a father, Steve left his law practice to be the primary caregiver for his daughters, an unusual role for men in the 1990's. A deeply devoted dad, Steve could be spotted in the Yarmouth library during "Storytime for 2's," at Tiny Tumblers, at dance, swimming and horseback lessons, or baking homemade brownies for his daughters.

Anytime a family member welcomed a new baby, Steve rushed to the hospital to meet them. He doted on his nephews and nieces, earning him the nickname “Uncle Buddy.” His family remembers him as a generous gift giver, a confidante, a voracious reader and a brilliant writer, speaker and intellectual.

His keen wit and vast trivia knowledge kept his family on their toes. Steve possessed an endless curiosity for life, learning and travel. He had an uncanny ability to run into people he knew while travelling, no matter how far from home. He was thrilled to visit Ireland in recent years; while there, an affable pub owner in Carraroe volunteered to drive him to the family home to meet long-lost cousins.

Steve was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Nancy Devine.

He’s survived by his wife Sue and daughters Amelia and Clare of Yarmouth; his sister Frances (Bob) Baker of Peaks Island; brother Bobby (Kathy) Devine of Falmouth, nephews Matt (Erica) Sarapas of Portland; Scott (Lynn) Sarapas of Falmouth; Griffin Devine of Falmouth; nieces Annie (James) Rich of South Portland; Leslie and Maggie Devine of Arizona; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend a graveside service to include military honors for Steve at 12:00pm, on Friday, February 11, 2022, at the Central Maine Veterans’ Cemetery, 163 Mt. Vernon Rd, Augusta, ME 04330.