Obituary of Bernard Richard (Dick) Devlin

Bernard Richard (Dick) Devlin

1945-2019

Dick was born in Boston, MA on July 9, 1945, to parents Margaret and Bernard “Bernie” Devlin and sister Kathy. As a young boy, he could often be found in his room, studying flight manuals and attempting to tune into distant radio stations. He earned his first pilot’s license at age 16. Dick studied journalism at Northeastern University, where he enrolled in the Army ROTC program and became a member of the Company A-12 Pershing Rifles. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, earned his Airborne wings and Ranger tabs, and served in Vietnam.

He married Marie Pogar in 1979. He was a devoted father to daughters Shannon, Elizabeth, and Meaghan, and he made family the center of his life. Being able to help his girls was one of his greatest sources of joy, whether helping came in the form of holding grandbabies, driving halfway across the country to help someone move, or stepping in as a substitute soccer referee so the game could go on.

Dick loved to travel and was able to do so widely, both with the Army and with his family. Highlights included tours of duty and visits to Germany, the Philippines, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, California, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, and Alaska. He spoke for years of his hope to take Marie to see Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, they made that trip and had a wonderful experience. Dick also enjoyed gardening, telling jokes over a beer, and instigating political debates with his daughters.

Dick died July 21, 2019, due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was predeceased by mother Margaret, father Bernard, and brother Richard. He is survived by wife Marie;

sister Kathy and her three children;

daughters Shannon (Scott), Elizabeth (Bob), and Meaghan (Brian); and his five grandchildren, who called him Dadjo: Jack, Kate, Charlie, Seamus, and Emmett.

Services will be held on August 6.

Memorial service: 9:30 a.m. at 

Edwards Memorial Home, Lakewood

Burial to follow at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association.