Richard Eugene Devine
January 10, 1937 - April 3, 2026
Richard “Dick” Devine, 89, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2026, surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Dick was born on January 10, 1937, in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Loretta and James Devine. He was an active and competitive athlete from a young age, playing hockey and basketball through his years at Hackensack High School in New Jersey and Fairfield University in Connecticut.
After graduating from Fairfield, Dick joined the Maryknoll Fathers and taught at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and later served the community in Hamilton, Montana. Although he valued that time in his life, he ultimately decided his path was to start a family of his own. After returning to New Jersey, he met the love of his life, Jodi, and they married in 1970. They soon welcomed their daughter Kristen, followed by their son Brian.
They made their home in Glen Rock, New Jersey, and later bought a house on Great Sacandaga Lake in Northville, New York. Dick worked as a sales representative for major textbook publishers for 30+ years and retired from Glencoe-McGraw Hill in 2000.
The lake became a central part of family life. Dick spent countless hours teaching his kids to snow ski, water ski, skate, sail, and enjoy being outdoors. He believed strongly in making time for fun and staying active, something he practiced every day -- whether rowing across the lake, biking into town, or working out in the garage or basement.
He and Jodi loved to travel and explored five continents together, visiting countries including Egypt, Nepal, China, India, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Peru. When they could, they brought their children along. One especially memorable trip was skiing as a family in the Sierra Nevada mountains above Granada, Spain.
Dick was proud of his Irish American heritage and had a strong interest in other cultures and religions. He was a lifelong reader who especially enjoyed historical and suspense novels. He often came home from his travels with new ideas and perspectives that he shared with his family.
After their children were grown, Dick and Jodi moved to Tampa, Florida where they spent their winters for ten years before moving to Broomfield, Colorado, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. There, they built a strong community of friends and stayed active with tennis, pickleball, biking, and travel.
Dick especially loved being a grandfather. He and Jodi continued hosting family summers at the lake, where their grandchildren spent their days swimming, boating, playing games, and just being together. Dick was always ready for a game -- cards, board games, horseshoes, or croquet -- and he brought a fun, competitive spirit to everything he did. He was known for his “Mahaska Juice,” which helped keep campfires going for long evenings of s’mores and conversation and was an enthusiastic trick-or-treater, pumpkin carver and first taste tester for the many meals he shared with his family.
Dick lived a full and active life and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His family was always his top priority, and he took great pride in all of them. In his later years, as his health declined, Jodi cared for him with constant love and support.
Dick is predeceased by his parents Loretta and James and his brother James. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jodi Devine of Broomfield, Colorado; his daughter, Kristen Devine of San Francisco, California; his son, Brian Devine, and daughter-in-law, Maura Devine, of Broomfield, Colorado; and his grandchildren, Eamon, Hunter, and Ashlynn.
A celebration of life is planned for the summer in Northville, NY.
Donations in Richard’s memory may be made to the Crazy Horse Memorial at https://donate.crazyhorsememorial.org/ or your favorite charity.
Donations
Donations in Richard's honor may be made to
The Crazy Horse Memorial
or your favorite charity.
Celebration of Life
A celebration of life is planned for the summer in Northville, NY.
