Joseph Emmett DEVINE, Sr. Beloved husband, father, educator, grammarian, author and longtime Seattle resident, died on January 10, 2007 at the age of 79, after a brief illness. Joe Devine was born to Aloysius and Rita Devine on the Ides of March in 1927, and raised in Sequim, WA. He attended Sequim High, achieving the esteemed sports honor of “All City Sequim.” Joe attended Seattle University, earning a degree in English as well as a teaching certificate. In Seattle he met the love of his life, Josephine Curran. Joe and Josephine married in 1955 and raised six children in the St. Joseph’s parish of Capitol Hill. Joe spent most of his professional career at West Seattle High School, teaching English and Language Arts for over 30 years, and coaching swimming and basketball. He was a popular teacher, inspiring a generation of students to pursue higher education and instilling in them an appreciation for the English language and literature. Joe wrote a grammar book entitled Commas Are Our Friends, which combined his sharp wit with his desire to educate. This book is currently used in colleges, high schools and English programs across the United States. Joe’s favorite pastime was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren. He deeply valued longtime friendships, with several friends of over 50 years. He also enjoyed making new friends, and connected with people of all ages and backgrounds. An outgoing man, Joe loved socializing, and perhaps the only thing he hated in life was missing a good party. He also loved sports, and rarely missed the ball games and track and cross-country meets of his children. An avid and skilled crab trapper, Joe enjoyed crabbing and otherwise spending time at his property on Hood Canal. He was also an excellent tennis player, known for his formidable serve. As for Joe’s literary side, he had a lifelong fascination with the English language. He was a gifted writer and loved poetry, which he could recite extensively. He was about as passionate about grammar and punctuation as is humanly possible. Joe will be dearly missed by all of those whose life he touched. He will be fondly remembered for his devotion to his wife and family, his youthful spirit, integrity, kindheartedness, inclusiveness, class and charm, as well as his ready smile, great wit and wonderful sense of humor. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Helen Claflin. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Josephine, stepmother, Pearl, sisters, Sabina McDonald, Kathy Gresli and Norma Erickson, children, Rita (Winslow Hayes), Joe, Jr. (Elizabeth), Edward (Pamela), Paul (Judy), Megann (Michael Friel) and Patrick, as well as seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. A Funeral Mass will be held at 3:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2007, at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Laurelhurst (4900 N.E. 50th, Seattle, WA 98105). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Association for Catholic Childhood (100 23rd Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98144) or St. Francis House (169 12th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122). Somewhere up there, Joe Devine is smiling upon us with a twinkle in his eye, ready to remind all that commas really are our friends.
