Timothy “Tim” Devitt passed away on March 31, 2025, leaving behind a presence as grand as his voice and heart.
Known to many as “Big Fun,” he was a spirited husband, golfer, and Grateful Dead fan who lived with gusto and held true to himself, always ready to speak his mind and share his opinion.
Tim was born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the first in his family to be born in the United States, a milestone for his military kin. His early years took him to Okinawa, Fort Benning, New Jersey, and New York. He often spoke of his time at the Air Force Academy Prep School, counting it as “9 months, 26 days, 12 hours” with a laugh, before excelling at the University of Dayton, where he played football with vigor and served in ROTC for two years. He also attended Lewis University in Romeoville.
For over 30 years, Tim and his wife, Janet, traveled far and wide following the Grateful Dead, a shared passion that fed his love for the open road. He wore tie-dye shirts in all places, even on the golf course. In his youth, Tim boasted of long drives and smooth putts, but in later years, he grew frustrated, often landing in water or bunkers, yet still sharing coarse humor with his playing partners. In the end, it didn’t matter, for the game was what he loved. He enjoyed meeting new people at the bar over Irish whiskey and Guinness, his flask ever full. Halloween drew out his youthful spirit with elaborate costumes—at his core, he was a boy in a large Viking man’s body. Tim treasured his journeys to Ireland above all, finding peace and pride in its old ways, a land that stirred his “Viking roots” and called him back time and again.
Tim is survived by his wife, Janet; his stepdaughter Sara Mcintyre, her husband Tim, his grandson Kaden, his mother Mary Devitt his 5 sisters, Eileen Ebrahim (Khaled) Maureen Pikal (Joe) Erin Zeek (Kris) Peggy Kay (Dave) Jane Pritts, (Doug). He is proceeded in death by his father Marty Devitt in 1993 and his brother John Devitt in 2013. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Friends, Dead Heads, and golf companions will miss “Big Fun’s” hearty laugh and fearless spirit in every cheer, toast, and gathering.
A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. In place of flowers, consider playing a Grateful Dead tune, pouring a Guinness, or giving to Tunnels to Towers or Wounded Warriors as Tim would have wished.
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