Memorial to Vincent DeVito Sr.

Vincent John DeVito Sr. died suddenly while playing golf in Naples, Florida on April 8, 2009. Anyone who knew "Big Vince" knows that he played golf with the same passion that he lived life, and he could not have found a better way to depart us.

Vince was born in Canton, Ohio on April 11, 1923, to Caroline and Angelo DeVito, and he was proud of his Italian heritage. As a young man he was active in the Drum & Bugle Corps. He was an exceptional student, skipped two grades in school, and graduated from high school during the great depression. With few work opportunities, he enlisted in the army only months before the U.S. entered World War II. During his five years as an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Corps, he spent time in England before traveling overland from Morocco to China where he served until the war ended. Returning to Ohio after the war, he married a war widow, Jeanne Phister. Smitten by her 2 young children, he raised them as his own, and the couple went on to have 5 more children.

In 1949 Vince earned a B.S. in Business from the Ohio State University and he remained an avid Buckeye throughout his life. After graduation he began his career with Goodyear in Akron. In 1953 he was transferred to the Goodyear Atomic plant in Piketon, Ohio where he held several positions culminating in the role of Director of Site Operations. In 1989 he retired from Martin Marietta (formerly Goodyear); however, he worked with the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) until his death. He received the INMM Distinguished Service award in 1984, was made a Fellow of the Institute in 1987, received a Career Service Award in 1997 and the INMM Meritorious Service Award in 2000. He served as Secretary of the INMM from 1973 until his passing.

In addition to his passion for his family and golf, Big Vince enjoyed traveling, photography, cooking and art. In the 1950's he and wife started a Lake White Little Theatre with a group of friends. He was active in St. Mary's Church in Waverly, Ohio and St. Williams Church in Naples. He was a man who never met a stranger; he loved his friends and was well loved by all who knew him. He was a big man with a huge heart.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Dr. John DeVito, stepson, Jack Doyle, stepdaughter, Diane Doyle Howells, and his beloved wife Jeanne. His children Gerald DeVito, Daniel DeVito, Vincent DeVito, Jr., Victoria DeVito and Angela DeVito, his sister, Florence Scridon and fourteen grandchildren, survive him.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Canton, Ohio on Saturday, June 6 at 10 am at St. Anthony Catholic Parish. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. (Rossi Funeral Home 330-492-5830)

A Memorial Service will be held in Waverly, Ohio on Sunday, June 7. Arrangements are pending at this time.

A special fund in Vince’s memory has been established at the non-profit Stoneybrooke Foundation, an organization that serves people with Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) a condition afflicting Vince’s granddaughter, Nikah.

Address: 303 E. Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060

Contact: Donna Stoney (503) 669-7191.

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