Frank J. Devine
By Ron Hayes
DELRAY BEACH — After retiring from a distinguished career in the U.S. Foreign Service, Frank Devine brought his diplomatic skills to Palm Beach County, first as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic College, then as executive director of the Delray Beach Property Owners Association.
A former American ambassador to El Salvador, Mr. Devine died June 2. He was 89 and had lived here since 1988, after postings to Colombia, Chile, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, El Salvador and Uruguay, where he met his wife, the former Barbara Ryan.
The couple were married for 49 years, until her death in June 2002.
“He was very proud to have served the United States and the Foreign Service,” said his daughter, Margaret Rose Devine. “He was very loving to his family, and always such a gentleman. Everybody always said he was such a gentleman, and very kind. He had beautiful manners.”
Frank J. Devine was born on June 30, 1922, in Albany, N.Y. He was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the National War College and served with the U.S. Army in World War II.
Mr. Devine began his career in the Foreign Service as the American vice consul in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1948, and retired in 1980.
From 1981 to 1988 he was the executive director of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.
In 1988, he was named Diplomat-In-Residence at Palm Beach Atlantic College, where he taught Latin American business in the Rinker School of Business, as well as Spanish and Latin American culture.
Beginning in 1988, he served for two years as executive director of the Beach Property Owners Association.
In addition to Margaret Rose, of Highland Beach, he is survived by a second daughter, Penelope, of Denver, Colo., and a son, Frank, of Madrid, Spain; two grandchildren, Frank IV and Cooper; and a sister, Marie.
A funeral Mass was celebrated June 9 at St. Lucy Catholic Church in Highland Beach.
The family suggests that donations in Mr. Devine’s name be made to DACOR, an organization of foreign affairs professionals, at 1801 F St. NW, Washington, DC 20006.
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