John B. Devitt

GREECE, NY: August 8, 2026. John was predeceased by his parents, William & Elizabeth Devitt. He is survived by his brother, William Devitt; nieces & nephew, Kari (Mike Crimi) Devitt, Morgan Devitt, James (Brittany Willey) Devitt, Holly (Justin Voorhees) Devitt; great-nephews, William Voorhees & Walker Voorhees; also survived by cousins & dear friends.

John’s Celebration of Life Service will be Friday, September 4th, 10:30 AM at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, Inc., 1411 Vintage Lane, (Between 390 & Long Pond Rd.) In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704
Hagerstown, MD 21741 https://donate.cancer.org or to the Humane Society @ Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Rd., Fairport, NY 14450 https://www.lollypop.org/

Remembering John B. Devitt

John B. Devitt was born on January 4, 1963, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, New York, to William and Betty Devitt. He was the younger of two sons, joining his older brother, Bill. John was born into a loving family where strong values were not simply taught but lived every day. His mother, Betty, was a devoted stay-at-home mom who raised John and Bill until Bill entered ninth grade and John entered fourth grade, when she went to work at Bausch & Lomb. His father, William, spent his entire career in sales.

Together, John’s parents instilled in their sons a strong foundation of loyalty, respect, love for others and an unwavering work ethic. Those values would remain at the heart of who John was throughout his entire life.

Growing up, John was greatly influenced by his older brother, Bill. Bill introduced him to two lifelong passions: the Chicago Bears and Jimmy Buffett. John remained a devoted Bears fan and, beginning in his 30s, proudly became a “Parrothead,” embracing his love of Jimmy Buffett and music, along with a variety of country artists.

John attended Lakeshore Elementary School before graduating from Cardinal Mooney High School. While in high school, he played on the golf team, beginning a lifelong love of the game. After graduation, John continued his education at Delhi, where he earned an associate degree in landscape architecture.

John’s work ethic showed itself early. His first job was at a deli in Rochester. His second job was working for a local landscaper, and it was there that he began to realize he wanted to build something of his own. One hot summer day, while painting a metal roof, John had a moment of clarity. He looked at what he was doing and thought, “I’m starting my own business.”
And he did.

John went on to build and operate his own company for an incredible 42 years. His business became much more than a career; it became a reflection of the person he was. John took tremendous pride in his work and in the reputation, he built over four decades. His word meant something to him. He believed in being dependable, accountable and honest, and he expected the same from the people around him. He had little patience for dishonesty, a poor work ethic or people who could not be relied upon.

John was, by all accounts, a hard worker, perhaps even a workaholic. But work was never just about work. He genuinely enjoyed helping people. When he had free time, he often spent it helping friends, family members and neighbors with home projects. If someone needed a hand, John was there. And he rarely did anything halfway. He was always willing to go above and beyond.

His generosity of time and talent earned him a special place in his neighborhood. One neighbor affectionately referred to him as the “OG” of the neighborhood. John, however, preferred to fly under the radar. His brother would joke that maybe John was actually a spy or perhaps he was in the witness protection program. It was just another reflection of John’s quiet, unassuming nature.

Although John was a private person, he certainly was not short on friendships. He had many, many friends throughout his life, people he had known since school, as well as people he met through his professional life. His friendships were built on loyalty, trust and genuine care. John had a huge heart, and the people who knew him understood that they could count on him.

Family was equally important to John. He loved his three nieces and nephew as though they were his own. He was always there for them, and his love for them was deep and genuine.

John was a member of Our Mother of Sorrows Church and enjoyed a life filled with interests outside of work. Golf was undoubtedly one of his greatest passions. He not only played the game but found ways to be involved in it whenever he could. He volunteered at both the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open golf tournaments, combining his love of golf with his love of being around people and the game he enjoyed so much. He also collected sports memorabilia and followed sports with enthusiasm.

John spent his free time often doing something for his family and friends. Helping others was simply part of who he was.

His love of animals was another important part of his life. John had several dogs throughout the years, each holding a special place in his heart. He was especially devoted to his two current dogs, Brutus and Tasha. In fact, just a couple of weeks ago, while working on a house project, John was asked a simple question: “If your house caught on fire, what would be the two things you would save?” Without hesitation, John answered, “My dogs and my golf clubs.” It was an answer that captured him perfectly, his dogs, whom he loved dearly, and golf, one of his greatest passions.

John built a life defined not by seeking recognition, but by being there when people needed him. He helped fix things, solve problems, lend a hand and make life a little easier for those around him. He built a business, but more importantly, he built relationships and a reputation that will endure.

His legacy is found in the people he helped, the family he loved, the friendships he cherished, the work he was so proud of, and the countless lives he touched simply by being John.

A hard worker. A loyal friend. A devoted uncle. A loving son and brother. A neighbor people could count on. He will be missed by his family and friends.