In Memory of John Michael McDevitt(1992 - 2014)

John Michael McDevitt, age 22, our precious son, beloved brother, loyal friend and teammate, passed away in Fairfax, Virginia in the early morning hours of October 31, 2014.

John was born on January 15, 1992 in North Springfield, Virginia as the fifth son of Thomas Patrick McDevitt and the late Soonja Lee McDevitt. He grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and was named after the first ancestor of the McDevitt clan who came to the United States from Ireland in 1850.

He graduated from Oak View Elementary School, Robinson Middle School and Robinson High School, Class of 2010. John took courses at Northern Virginia Community College and Blue Ridge Community College. His goal was to complete an undergraduate degree in Business or Information Technology.

John was an avid and accomplished athlete who excelled in baseball, football, snowboarding and golf.  From the time he was 6 years old, he played baseball for Braddock Road Little League and football for Braddock Road Youth Conference. With natural leadership ability, John started as quarterback for Robinson “Rams” High School Freshman and Junior Varsity Football teams. As a freshman, he was brought up to varsity as quarterback and saw action in several games. He also started as a defensive cornerback for the Robinson Varsity Football team and lettered in football all four years.

In the years following high school, John worked for Starbucks, Best Buy, Rio’s, and Wegman’s Grocery. This young man was a passionate Washington Redskins, Capitals and Nationals fan. For many years, John attended the Daytona 500 and other NASCAR races with his devoted cousin, Waky. Like his four brothers, John loved snowboarding in the winter and vacationing every summer in the Outer Banks, North Carolina. He also developed a keen talent for video games.

He completed the Ocean Challenge leadership program in Kodiak, Alaska in July 2012. During the final weeks of his earthly life, John volunteered at the Universal Peace Federation DC office and had hoped to continue working with UPF. He had also committed to assisting his Dad in the preparation of a lecture series addressing the renewal of America’s culture. John was active in Sunday School at the Unification Family Church in Northern Virginia in his elementary and middle school years. John Michael McDevitt was known for his generosity, compassion and loyalty to friends and family.

The last words his mother shared with him before her passing in 2002 were, “Please don’t ever forget your identity as a Blessed Child.” The final words John shared with his father after being dropped off at the Harrison House treatment program the night before he passed were “I love you, Dad.”

John’s mother, Soon Ja, passed away at the age of 52 from stomach cancer in December, 2002 when John was 10 years old. He is survived by his father, Thomas Patrick McDevitt; brothers Macklee Thomas, Casato Joseph, Joehun Daniel, and Patrick James McDevitt; grandmothers, Beverly Jean McDevitt and Sang Chon Park; uncles and aunts, Michael Joseph and Wonju McDevitt, Hyun Gun and Yun Ja Kim; cousins, Michael Waky McDevitt, Mawendo Meagan McDevitt, Soo Hyung and Nancy Kim; and, canine (ShihTzu) companions, Rocky and Angel.

John will be laid to rest adjacent to his mother’s grave in the Unification Church community site at Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Bladensburg, MD.

The McDevitt family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Harrison House of Virginia and UPF-DC office for their endearing care of John in the final weeks of his life.