In Loving Memory of Everett D. "Buddy" Devine

January 10, 1935 – January 20, 2008

OUR BUDDY

After months of battling the effects of a stroke, our longtime friend and Select League volunteer Everett D. “Buddy” Devine passed on January 20, 2008. All of us mourn the loss of this special man, but it won’t really sink in until spring, when the Kreager Park fields fill up with children and the sounds of the referees’ starting whistles bring a new soccer season to life. Missing in body and in spirit will be Buddy’s familiar figure in the seat of his golf cart, camera in hand as he waits for, and finds, that perfect moment in the action; or perhaps trucking along between the fields with a fellow Senior on board, transporting them to their beloved grandchild’s game. He who drove referees to the furthest fields, little children cluttering the cart as they “helped” Buddy in his missions, he who brought the injured to their cars; who stood at the Select Board information table to answer questions patiently or collect late registration forms without reprimand or complaint – he will be nothing more than a memory. We adults understand life’s cycles and we feel quietly blessed to have known and worked with Buddy, but the children whose lives he touched will be saddened and confused when they run towards the empty golf cart and find their friend forever gone.

It’s in loving memory of our Buddy, and in honor of our children, that we present a pictorial tribute that will help us reflect on Buddy’s many years of service to our organization. Sadly there are only a few photos of Buddy himself. His legacy to us was the many spectacular photos he took of our children.

To Buddy
From Jeremiah

Your face appears in my dreams
And your countenance
Runs in my blood
I can still see you sitting
Looking out at the world
A man of the deep past
Whose gentle eyes give so much
To all who knew you
Respected--Remembered
An Uncommon Man . . .
On our journey to heaven
You grew handsome in my eyes
And eloquent beyond measure
With gentle humor and grace
And I with incredible luck
Knew you well.

(reprinted with permission of the author)

Buddy Devine was FWUSA’s first Hall of Famer. A short history of his service with the club can be found on the online Hall of Fame page, located at here.