- Date Of Birth: January 29, 1932
- Date Of Death: October 8, 2014
- State: New Jersey
Lawrence D. DeVitis, 82, of Jackson, passed away on Wednesday, October 08, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Larry was born on January 29, 1932 in Manalapan, NJ and lived in Freehold, NJ, before moving to Jackson, where he resided for the past 43 years. Starting as a young boy picking vegetables alongside his siblings on his family’s farm in Manalapan, Larry impressed many with his incredible, unstoppable work ethic and drive.
This trend continued as an adult as he worked the farm and several jobs, including serving as a foreman at Millhurst Mills, and at Monmouth Petroleum to support his family while learning the electrical trade – a profession that carried him throughout his life and a trade that he proudly passed on to his son, Danny. From 1988 – 1999, in his “retirement years”, he owned and operated The Village Donut Shop in Jackson with his wife, Mary Lee, where he was known for not only making the best donuts, but also providing a warm welcome, and a joke along with every cup of coffee. And in his spare time, he bred, owned and trained standardbred horses with his son. Although Larry often said that he was blessed with work, in recent years, he found great joy in serving as a self-proclaimed “Househusband”.
Every day started with him making the best breakfast for Mary Lee, and ended with the two of them making dinner together. His days also included daily visits and chats with his friends at The Village Donut Shop and Mr. T’s Convenience Store, check in calls with his siblings and children, planning and working his garden, where, still a farmer at heart, he grew the best vegetables, and playing the ponies from his computer with his buddy, Tony and his brother, Dave. Additionally, Larry loved his sports, specifically the NY Mets and the NY Giants. For those who truly knew and loved Larry, he will be remembered for his strong convictions, for always doing the right thing, his razor sharp wit, his infectious laugh and smile, his resilience, his way of showing love through actions, not words, his “Larry-isms”, the way he rocked plaid shirts and newsboy caps, and finally, for being an amazing husband, dad, brother and friend. He is predeceased by his parents Lawrence and Miriam (Weidlich) DeVitis; his sister, Rosemary Bordunovich; his brother, David DeVitis. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Mary Lee (Mickey) DeVitis; his son, Daniel DeVitis; his daughter, Cynthia DeVitis and her partner, Anthony Damato.
He is also survived by his daughters from a previous marriage: Mary Jo McAllister and her husband Jim; Cathy Normann and her husband Walter and Laurie Tymesko and her husband Dan; his treasured siblings, brother Louis DeVitis; sister-in-law, Marge DeVitis, his sisters, Rita Conte and her husband Frank; Eileen Beck and her partner Tony Capalbo; Marie Abbatiello and her husband Carmine; and brother-in-law, Leo Mickey and his partner, Michael Pace; also 6 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nephews, nieces and friends.
