Jeffrey Devon

Dr. Jeffrey Devon of Boca Raton, FL, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2024, at the age of 81 in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by his loving family.

Jeff was born in Brooklyn, NY, on December 19, 1942, the eldest child of Ethel and David Devon. Known apocryphally as “Jeff the Jet” for his prowess at running, he had very fond memories of growing up playing stickball with his buddies, eating Nathan’s hot dogs, and loving the Dodgers. He was a sea scout, creating a lifelong fondness of everything nautical. A product of the New York City public school system, he graduated from Brooklyn City College. He was a lifelong learner, especially of history, and loved language, horology, and Costco hot dogs. Most of all, he loved his family and serving in support of others.

Reflecting his fearlessness and keen mind, he attended medical school at the University of Louvain in Belgium, becoming fluent in French while absorbing an encyclopedic medical knowledge. Traveling across Europe in the 1960s, he had some close Cold War calls getting stuck behind the Iron Curtain. Returning after medical school, he did his residency at Tufts University before embarking on a long and successful career as a physician, specializing in hematology, oncology, and internal medicine.

He married the love of his life Leah on February 14, 1976, making Valentine’s Day a doubly special occasion. Their relationship spawned three children, Joshua, Eric, and Benjamin. When out with his kids at a shopping mall and asked how his children looked so much like him, he responded, “super sperm.” Rambunctious rabble rousers, the three kids, while extremely lovable, certainly created their fair share of consternation for their parents. Jeff was always patient with his children until he wasn’t. Thankfully, the kids had inherited Jeff’s speed and were able to scatter before he was able to discipline them.

With their inherited good looks, each of his kids managed to convince someone to marry them and proceeded to create a new generation of Devons. Josh married Erin, producing Samuel and Eve. Eric paired off with Diani and had Lailah, Haya, and Jacob. And Ben tied the knot with Sarah, who had one bun in the oven at the time of Jeff’s passing.

Jeff adored his grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. He loved taking them to the beach, telling them stories, and letting them make fun of him mercilessly. He brought them on adventures to airboat rides, musical events, and, of course, the mall. Above it all, he always showed exuberant love and affection for them.

The last of a certain breed of doctors, Jeff cared as much for his patients out of the office as he did in it. Building a highly successful medical practice, Jeff made countless house calls, befriending numerous patients. He always marveled at everyone’s individual story and would recount tales of his patients’ successes, failures, and lessons learned. An award-winning physician several times, his patients clearly loved him. He was always there for them and offered a special compassion that made sure no patient ever felt alone or afraid.

He was probably one of the strongest and most courageous people you’ve met. He faced much adversity on his path and always survived, never complaining and never lamenting. Physically, he bounced back from a heart attack and was among the lucky few to survive pancreatic cancer before it finally caught up with him 7 years later. Perhaps even harder, he overcame significant psychological battles and was proof that the path of perseverance, and dedication to love will always lead to peace. He was the consummate survivor and resilience in corporeal form. He was the shield of our family.

Jeff was a collector, if not quite a hoarder. He loved all manner of watches, wallets, bags, and containers. Storage units were a must. As much as he collected, he was always willing to give away whatever you needed. A new watch? Here you go. Need a bag? Have just the one for you. Somehow he was always better stocked than Costco.

Instead of air guitar, Jeff liked to “air conduct” to classical music, his favorite. While he couldn’t tell a joke without messing it up, he had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. Perhaps from his summer jobs as a kid in the Catskills, he roared at everything from slapstick to standup. He loved quoting Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. As he stepped into the Dead Sea for the first time, he exclaimed, “Shrinkage!”

Gregarious could have been his middle name (he didn’t have one). He somehow could sidle up to a stranger anywhere and make a new best friend in 10 minutes standing in line at V & S for a sandwich. He seemed to know everyone as he walked around, waving to all his neighbors, servers at a restaurant, or employees at the mall. The world wasn’t filled with strangers, just new people to know and build relationships with, even if for a fleeting moment.

Like the watches he loved, he was always in perpetual motion. Biking, swimming, shopping, visiting, exploring, he had an energy that always wanted to be living and active. He always sought out new experiences, from dining at restaurants to perusing antique shops. He seemed at home wherever he was, which perhaps contributed to moving the family around so much.

If there were a creed for the way Jeff lived, it might be, “Be kind and carry on.” He had deep respect for leaders like Winston Churchill and David Ben Gurion who persevered for their people through extraordinarily challenging times. Likewise, he took his Hippocratic oath not just when treating patients, but in all he did, always showing kindness and compassion to everyone he ever met from all walks of life.

Jeff lived a long and fulfilling life with no stones left unturned. He leaves behind a legion of Devons walking steadfastly along the path he forged of love, compassion, and moxie. His family is so grateful for the time they had with him. If the cost of love is the pain of loss, they are willing to pay the highest price.

 Relatives and friends are invited to graveside services, Friday September 20, 2:00 pm at Haym Salomon Memorial Park (Frazer, PA). Shiva will be observed at the residence of Joshua and Erin Devon, on Sunday only from 3:00-6:00pm. 

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Jeff’s memory to the following charities: 

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation National Headquarters733 Third Avenue, Ste. 510 New York, NY 10017

https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/donate

Wounded Warrior Project4899 Belfort Road Suite 300 Jacksonville, FL 32256

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/donate

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