Fr. Gerald T. Devore
BRIDGEPORT – Fr. Gerald T. Devore, 74, died peacefully of pneumonia surrounded by friends and family at St. Vincent’s Medical Center on Sunday January 9.
He was known to generations of area families as a teacher, spiritual director and pastor. He retired in November 2007, though he continued to help out by saying Mass in many local parishes.
Fr. Devore was born October 3, 1936 in Newark, New Jersey. His family then moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut where Fr. Devore grew up and attended St. Charles School. He graduated from Fairfield Prep in 1954. He attended St Thomas Seminary College in Bloomfield Connecticut and Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, New York, where he earned his Philosophy and Theology degrees.
He was ordained on May 26, 1962 at St. Augustine Cathedral by the Most Rev. Walter W. Curtis, second Bishop of Bridgeport.
In June 1962, he served as a curate at St Patrick Parish in Bridgeport. From 1963 to 1966, he served as a faculty member of Notre Dame Girls High School, where he taught Religion. In 1966, he was appointed Spiritual Director and faculty member of St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, a post he held until June 1978. During that time he also served as Chaplain of the Newman Community at the University of Bridgeport.
Fr. Devore was born October 3, 1936 in Newark, New Jersey. His family then moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut where Fr. Devore attended St. Charles School and Fairfield Prep, where he graduated in 1954. He attended St Thomas Seminary College in Bloomfield Connecticut and Christ the King Seminary in St. Bonaventure, New York, where he earned his Philosophy and Theology degrees.
During his priesthood, Fr. Devore also served as St. Margaret Mary Parish in Shelton and at Most Precious Blood Parish, now Christ the King Parish, in Trumbull. He also carried out sabbatical studies at the Vatican II Institute for Clergy Formation and the Notre Dame University Institute for Clergy Education.
He was named pastor of St. Maurice Parish in Stamford in 1985 and served there until 2002. In 2003, he was appointed to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Weston, where he served until his retirement in 2007.
He is survived by family members including his brother, Fr. Daniel Devore, a retired priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Fr. Devore on Friday, January 14, 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Bridgeport. Arrangements are being handled by The Larson Funeral Homes, 2496 North Avenue in Bridgeport.
