Obituary of Harry DeVito

Harry DeVito, an Air Force Veteran, passed away after a long illness on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. He was 82 years old. Harry was born in Waltham. He was one of seven children born to Harry and Virginia DeVito. He grew up and was educated in Belmont. He enlisted in the Air Force at the age of 17. He just missed being able to fight in the Korean War by only a few months. He held the rank of Airman First Class and was attached to the 1607th Field Maintenance Squadron at the Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. He served for 4 years, earned the Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged in February of 1959. After his military service, Harry worked as a hairdresser in a salon in Porter Square, Cambridge for 5 years. He then switched his career path and took a position with Fineberg Co. of Boston, a property management company with properties extensively in Boston and Brookline, but also all-over New England. He was a Maintenance Foreman with a crew of 15 beloved employees that maintained hotels and apartments. He ended his career as a capital property inspector and finally retired after 39 years. Harry found his life-long passion for boxing while in the Air Force. His favorites were Mohamed Ali and Micky Ward. Harry embraced life and loved being on the go. He had a great sense of humor and was a big jokester. He was a family-famous chef, who never shared, or followed a recipe. He was a member of the American Legion in Burlington and the Elks in Belmont. He also was a member of the Boston Northern Star Motorcycle Club. He loved the comradery shared with in the group and participated in rides all over New England, the Tri-State, and even Canada. His prized possession was a fully decked out Electra Glide, Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he later gifted to his son. He occasionally took his wife along on some of the more exciting trips. He did some hunting over the years. He was an avid fisherman and with help from his grandchildren fished even when confined to a wheelchair. He enjoyed a good round of golf. He loved testing his luck in Las Vegas, and at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Twin Rivers, and the new Encore. Unfortunately, Harry did not always have great luck with scratch tickets, although he played them frequently anyway. He was fascinated with the American Indian culture, rituals, and history. He and wife have traveled all over the world. He especially enjoyed the convenience of cruises. He had been on so many cruises that he was part of the preferred guest clubs on Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, and Princess cruise lines. Harry loved to be the life of the party. Harry found great pride in building his own in-ground pool by hand. He enjoyed hosting his annual 4th of July pool party where extended family and high school friends would all attend. Harry was a man devoted to his family. He was a dedicated husband and travel companion to his wife, Shirley, for 59 years. He was a proud and supportive father and father-in-law. He would do anything to help his children out including watching his grandchildren 5 days a week so their parents could work. “Papa Day Care” was way more fun than the traditional day care providers! The last few years have been filled with health issues, but he always remained positive and appreciative to his family for all their support, care, and love. Harry was the husband of Shirley M. (Bourget) for over 59 years. Loving father of Keri Barry & her husband Raymond of Tewksbury and Robert DeVito & his wife Nichoal of Dracut. Brother of Barbara Collins of Framingham, Jeanne Catallo of Palm Desert, CA, Robert DeVito of Waltham, Cammille Dargie of Springhill, FL, Kenneth DeVito of Waltham, and the late Ralph DeVito. Proud grandfather of Tiffany, Alexander, & Zachary Barry and Areanna, Dori, and Mariella DeVito. A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Monday, Jan. 27 from 4-8 p.m. Funeral from the Sullivan Funeral Home on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Harry’s name may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org.