Necrology

Frank Joseph DeVito '38

Jan. 10, 1914-Mar. 15, 2006

Frank Joseph DeVito ’38, a retired high school French teacher, master wood carver, and long a leader in scouting, was a lifelong resident of his native Utica, NY. Born there on January 10, 1914, a son of Raffaele and Olympia Cicchelli DeVito, he first became involved in scouting at age 13 as a bugler at Camp Russell in the Adirondacks. There he was also introduced to wood carving, which became not only his hobby but more of an enduring passion. Frank DeVito, who was graduated from Utica Free Academy, enrolled at Hamilton two years later in 1934, after working for the Depression-born Civilian Conservation Corps. A commuting student and member of the Squires Club, he focused his studies on modern languages and earned his B.S. degree in 1939.

Following his graduation, Frank DeVito worked briefly as a freight handler for the New York Central Railroad and as a substitute languages teacher before joining the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943. He served in the Pacific theater through the end of World War II and, as a technical sergeant in communications, participated in the invasion of Okinawa. Released from the Army early in 1946, he spent the summer studying French at Middlebury College under the G.I. Bill, and then sailed to France to continue his studies and acquire a diploma at the Sorbonne in Paris. In 1950, he earned an M.A. degree in French at Columbia University Teachers College, and the following year began teaching at Utica Free Academy, his old high school. He retired 25 years later, in 1976, as chairman of its language department.

Active in scouting since adolescence and an Eagle Scout, Frank DeVito spent his summer months as a counselor at Camp Russell on White Lake. For more than 40 years a scoutmaster, as well as a former camp director and longtime program director at Camp Russell, he taught pioneering and woodcraft there for some 62 years. His numerous contributions in the service of the Boy Scouts of America were recognized with virtually every award in scouting, including the Silver Beaver Award and the George Meany National Scouting Award.

Frank DeVito, who learned to carve as a kid at Camp Russell, developed what he termed “a certain reverence for wood.” Despite lack of formal training as a wood carver, he undertook ambitious projects over the years, including every totem pole at Camp Russell. His crowning achievement was a 65-foot high pole covered with brightly painted symbols, some patriotic and some whimsical, and completed in 1993 when he was 82. At the time it was reported to be the tallest totem pole east of the Mississippi. In addition, he enjoyed carving official seals. Among them were the Seal of the City of Utica and the Great Seal of the United States, which were on permanent display in the Council Room of Utica’s City Hall. And, in 1986 he carved and presented to Governor Mario Cuomo the Seal of New York State, which was placed on view in the Governor’s Mansion in Albany.

In 1983, Frank DeVito ended 69 years of bachelorhood by marrying Frances Moretti. They took up residence in his old family home, at one time DeVito’s bakery, on Jay Street in East Utica. He continued active in scouting and as a carver until overcome by Alzheimer’s disease in his 80s.

Frank J. DeVito died on March 15, 2006, in Utica, at the age of 92. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Lucy Alberico, as well as nieces and nephews.

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