Kelly Devine, 36, of Norwalk, died in her home suddenly and unexpectedly after a brief illness on Thursday, April 7, 2016.
Kelly Devine
Born June 25, 1979 in Norwalk, she was the daughter of Jay and Cathy Devine. In addition to her parents she is survived by her brothers Kevin, Daniel and Robert, her sister Kim and her grandmother Eleanor B. Devine; all of Norwalk.
Kelly attended All Saints Catholic School and Norwalk High School, class of 1997. At Norwalk High, she was Captain of the girls’ swim team, and won the Class LL State Championship in the 50 yard freestyle. She attended the College of William and Mary, from which she graduated in 2001 with a degree in Education. While there, she was again captain of the girls swim team.
After college, Kelly taught Language Arts at Saxe Middle School in New Canaan for 12 years. Most recently she taught at New Canaan High School as a reading specialist. Kelly held a Master’s degree in Education from Fairfield University, and a Sixth-Year Certificate from Sacred Heart University.
Kelly spent her last seventeen summers as Head Swim Coach at the Shore and Country Club. Her leadership brought the Shore and Country Swim Club to a place among the top programs in the Fairfield County Swim League. Many of her athletes have had successful college swimming careers, and credit Kelly for giving them their start in swimming. She was also a member of both Shorehaven and Zeus Swim Team where she swam competitively as a youth.
Kelly was passionate about her family, especially her “baby” sister Kim. But she was equally passionate about her “extended” family, her New Canaan students and her Shore and Country swimmers, and she will be sorely missed by all of them.
In addition to her immediate family, Kelly is survived by a large and close-knit family of many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Friends may call on Wednesday from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, Norwalk. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10:00 AM in St. Philip Church, 1 Fr. Conlon Place, Norwalk. Burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Norwalk.
In her memory, her family is establishing a scholarship for the benefit of Norwalk High School students interested in pursuing a career in Language Arts. Contributions can be made payable to Lovejoy & Rimer, Trustee, ATTN: Chris Jarboe, 65 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.
—This obituary appeared on the Collins Funeral Home website.