Longtime Fair Havenite, philanthropist and Rumson Country Day School trustee John Hugh Devlin passed away on Nov. 21. He was 77.

Visitation took place at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank, on Monday.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven, where Hugh was a longtime parishioner.

From Hugh’s obituary …

Hugh was known as a person who valued his friends, his faith and his family. He loved boating, skiing, bridge and especially golf with his close friends from New Jersey and Vero Beach, Florida. He and his wife of 52 years, Nancy, enjoyed golfing, traveling, family dinners and cheering on the sidelines of their children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events.

Born in Paterson to the late Ruth and John Devlin, and raised in Glen Rock, Hugh graduated from St. FrancisPrep in Pennsylvania in 1960. He went on to get his bachelor of science degree in Finance from Lasalle University in 1964 and his MBA from Seton Hall University in 1967.

After marrying Rumsonite Nancy O’Shea in 1967, the couple moved to Fair Haven in 1968.

Hugh began his career in finance at the Empire Trust Company (Bank of New York) in 1965 and was Vice President of A.G. Becker & Co. from 1967 to 1972.  He joined Morgan Stanley & Co. in 1972 as a Vice President and was named partner of the firm in 1975.  In 1982 he assumed overall administrative responsibility for the Investment Banking Division. 

Hugh had senior banking responsibility for public utility companies and other clients until January 1989, when he became an advisory director of Morgan Stanley. In 1990, Hugh was a founding member of the investment banking boutique Barr Devlin Associates, which was acquired by Société Générale in 1998. He remained as a consultant to S.G. Barr Devlin until he retired in 2001. 

Hugh was a past member of the Board of Directors of the United Illuminating Company in Connecticut, served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Riverview Medical Center, trustee of the Rumson Country Day School and trustee of the John’s Island Foundation. Hugh also served on the boards of Seabright Beach Club, Rumson Country Club and RedStick Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida.

After retiring from his business career, Hugh, along with his wife, Nancy, were involved in a number of philanthropic causes that were important to them. 

He is survived by: his loving wife, Nancy, who he met while they both attended college in Philadelphia; his three loving children, John Devlin (Elizabeth), David Devlin (Karin), and Sarah Devine (Dennis); and his 11 grandchildren, Jack Devlin, Luke Devlin, Bryce Devlin, Chase Devlin, Campbell Devlin, Henry Devlin, Lucy Devlin, Molly Devine, D.J. Devine, Beau Devine and Penelope Devine; his dear sister, Cathy Devlin, of Upper Saddle River; and 19 nieces and nephews.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Hugh’s honor to: the Hydrocephalus Foundation online at https://www.hydroassoc.org/, or mail to 4340 East West Highway, #905, Bethesda, MD 20814-4447; or, to The Take a Breather Foundation online at https://www.takeabreatherfromcf.org, or by mail at 107 Forrest Ave., Suite 105, Narberth, PA 19072.