LAMOINE – Reginald Lewis McDevitt passed away March 16, 2011, at his home. He was born Nov. 19, 1923, on North Street, Ellsworth Falls, to Manfred L. and Helen L. (Smith) McDevitt.
Reg graduated from Ellsworth High School, Class of 1942. He started work at a young age helping his dad deliver grain and hay all over the local area and Mount Desert Island. He purchased wood lots and harvested from stump to mill, much by hand. He then owned and operated his own business handling freight, U.S. Mail, and hauling Canadian bricks for many buildings in Ellsworth and the vicinity. Reg’s youthful ambition was to become a pilot during World War II but due to a football injury he was not accepted, noting that the doctor thought it would be too costly to repair. He was invited to join Ellsworth Police Department, which he did and served as chief of police for 15 years as well as being a Hancock County sheriff’s deputy. Along with being chief of police, he was also the city marshall, civil defense director, truant officer and animal control officer. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades and also a master of many. In 1975 he became chief civil deputy until his retirement in 1997. Reg’s intent upon retirement was to write a book but he decided that without using names, his stories would lose their color. His job took him far and wide in Washington, Penobscot and Hancock counties searching for named persons to serve. For his choice of uniform, he was well known as the “Man in Black,” which resulted in a big grin and hearty laugh from Reg. Throughout his life, Reg was well known for his physical strength – many have remarked that he was the strongest man that they ever encountered. His physical strength, however, was merely a shadow compared to his wonderful character and beautiful spirit. A resident of Lamoine for more than 50 years, he was a very active member of the community. Throughout the years, he served on the town’s budget committee, board of appeals, planning board, school committee and public works study committee. He headed the town’s park commission and was responsible for the building of Lamoine Beach Park. Reg was instrumental in building the Lamoine Veteran’s Memorial, just one of his many legacies. For his many hours of service and dedication to the town of Lamoine, he proudly received the town’s “Citizen of the Year” award for 2009. Reg was president of Forest Hill Cemetery Corp. of Lamoine, a lifetime honorary member of Ellsworth Kiwanis, and a communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ellsworth.
Reg was a godsend to his wife, Marion; son, Peter; daughter, Jeanie; daughter-in-law, Tracey; and beloved grandson, Connor. No day went by that we weren’t in his heart and thoughts. We will always be most grateful for his love and life lessons. The Lord has carried him ever so gently to await the gathering of the McDevitt clan. We will be together again where He has made a place for us all. In addition to his devoted family, he had many friends, including Dr. O. Lee Haynes; Sally Smith, R.N.; staff at Mount Desert Island Hospital; Elaine Gilley; the Fellis nieces and nephews: Steve, Libby, Teresa, Marion and Craig; brother-in-law, Gordon Fellis; and many others he considered as friends too numerous to mention. If you were his friend, he was yours also.
Visiting hours with rosary will be held 4-6 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth. A Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, March 21, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 231 Main St., Ellsworth, with Father Scott Mower, celebrant. A reception will be afterward at the Father Kenny Center. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Lamoine. Contributions in Reg’s memory may be made to Cub Scout Pack No. 88, 80 Walker Road, Lamoine, ME 04605 and Mount Desert Island Hospital, P.O. Box 8, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.