Ann (Perry) Devine

Ann (Perry) Devine, 97, of Torrington, CT, peacefully passed away Monday, March 14, 2022.  She was the wife of the late Frederick Devine.

Born in 1924 in Portland, Maine to Paul and Doris Perry, Ann Devine’s life spanned nearly a century. Her parents, a peripatetic Coast Guard couple, soon separated leaving young Ann in the care of her beloved aunt, Madeline (Mimi) Condon, and her husband, Robert. It was a felicitous arrangement that provided Ann with love, care, and stability. Forever grateful, throughout her life she would often quote their wisdom like a devotee quoting a sacred text.

Educated at the Williams School in New London, Connecticut, she cut her studies short in order to marry her young love, Frederick Devine, who was soon to depart for the European Theatre in World War II. Forged into an early union by the peril of war, their marriage prospered for 49 years until Fred’s death in 1991. Upon his return from war, Ann presented Fred with their first child, a three-year old daughter, Madeline. As the years passed, they were graced with three more children, Peter, Frederick Jr, and Dawn.

Motherhood, perhaps the greatest of human tasks, well suited Ann. She cared for her children through illness, instilled in them a sense of compassion, and introduced beauty and art into the home. She created a vibrant home filled with vivid colors and stimulating ideas. And, against the time’s anachronistic neglect of girls, she successfully advocated for the advanced education of her daughters. More than just an advocate for her daughters, she modelled independence by building her own art studio and creating a small local art school. With fortitude and imagination, she willed the studio and its classes into being.

Ann spent her life developing as an artist, specifically a painter. Although in later years she took art courses at Connecticut College, she developed first as an autodidact enthralled by the work of the Impressionist masters, Renoir and Monet. Quickly, their example was folded into her own post-impressionist style. She painted landscapes, cityscapes, portraits and more, all dappled with sparkling color. Through painting, the ordinariness of her immediate surroundings was transformed into a world of color and irrepressible joy. It was a joy recognized by others. She was accepted into many regional shows and made a member of the Hartford Society of Women Painters. Gradually, her work evolved from the early Impressionist influence to a more individual fantastical imagery. Changing medium from oil to acrylic, the masterful glazes in these later works created a luminescent infinite space. Aquatic in subject, these were dreamworlds populated with overlapping and entwined shells, urchins, and other members of the deep. She conjured a paradise no mortal had ever seen.

These too found an audience. Though she had already had several one woman shows, in her 80’s, she was given a solo show at the Five Point Center for the Visual Arts in Torrington, CT. Though this was her last significant show, an unfinished painting recently begun, sits on her easel today.

Based on the merits of her life’s work, the Williams School belatedly awarded her diploma in 2014. It was a tender moment attended by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

During the final months of her life, she has been attended with angelic care by her daughter, Dawn, her son, Frederick, her son-in-law, Rikki Wells and grandson, Chaz. The family cannot find words sufficient to thank them for the selfless care they have provided. Their dedication brought a peace to her final days.

Ann is survived by her daughter Madeline Wells (Rikki), son Peter Devine (Nancy), son Frederick Devine Jr., and daughter Dawn Zanderigo (Michael). She also leaves behind four grandchildren, Mona Kronholm (John), Jennifer Dipentima (Christian), Alexis Devine and Chaz Wells along with 8 great grandchildren. Ann is preceded in death by her husband Frederick Devine Sr., her grandson James Devine, and her daughter in-law Sharon Devine.

The service is private and in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lyme Art Association: https://lymeartassociation.org/support-us/ways-to-give/