James F. Devine, Sr. (“Jim”), age 92, passed away peacefully, with his devoted wife of 68 years, Jeannette by his side, on January 24, 2018, in Malvern, PA. Jim is survived by Jeannette (Cascarino) Devine, his five children, Anita, Paulette, Karen, Jim Jr., and Bill, and their spouses/significant other, respectively, Mike Rustyak, Nick Pawlowski, Joe Kokinda, Eileen (Becker) Devine, and Bonnie Brennan.  Jim is also survived by his 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, who all affectionately referred to him as “Da.”  Jim was preceded in death by his grandson Adam Brenchley, and siblings, Frank, Kate, Dorothea, and Tom, and was a favorite among nieces, nephews and extended family.

Jim was born on November 16, 1925 in West Philadelphia, to parents Francis Leo and Regina (McFarland) Devine. Jim inherited his father’s intellect, graduating with honors, from St. Thomas More High School in 1943, as class president. He was a dedicated alum of “Tommy More,” attending annual reunion luncheons, and remaining in touch with many of his high school classmates.  “St. Tommy Forever More!” was their unifying slogan. Jim went on to attend Villanova University, and transferred to North Carolina University’s ROTC program, graduating in just two years, in1945, with a B.A. in Naval Sciences, all while serving as a U.S. Navy Lieutenant during World War II. 

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Jim went on to a successful career as a Sales Engineer with Philadelphia Gear Corporation, in King of Prussia, PA, from which he retired in 1990.  While pursuing his career, Jim was a devoted father, adored by his children, and well loved by the wonderful Llanerch/Havertown, PA community, where he and Jeannette raised their family. Surrounded by many of their friends, all of whom had large families, it was a close-knit community of proud suburban homes, connected by traditional sidewalk- and tree-lined streets, where children walked to school, played in the schoolyards, and returned to loving homes, the doors of which were rarely locked. 

Jim was proud of his public service, which culminated in a fund-raising, capital development campaign, and the 1972 completion of the Philo Community Center in North Philadelphia. Jim was a passionate writer, and was published in the Philadelphia Bulletin in 1970, prior to completion of the Center, with an article featuring the challenges of the poorer, at-risk North Philadelphia communities, and the efforts of the Philopatrian supporters to make a positive impact on their lives. Jim was also an avid tennis player, who with friends, formed the Hobson Racquet Club, out of Villanova, PA, in the 1970s. Jim continued actively playing with the “Hobbies” in weekly singles and doubles matches well into his eighties. 

Jim’s passing marks the celebration of a long and fulfilled life, surrounded by what was most important to him; his loving family and dear friends.  Jim will always be remembered as a gentleman, with a brilliant wit, fun sense of humor and kind disposition, and as a man who made friends out of strangers wherever he walked.