Dr. John William Devanney, Jr., a former neurosurgeon and member of the faculty of the UC College of Medicine, died Sept. 27 of congestive heart failure in Naples, FL. He was 87. Dr. Devanney was born in Cincinnati, OH in 1916. He graduated from St. Xavier High School, attended Cornell University, and received his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati in 1941. Following an internship at Cincinnati Jewish Hospital, he entered the Army Air Force in 1942 and served first at Lowery Field, Denver and then in the Pacific as a Flight Surgeon ending up in Tokyo after the Japanese surrender. He was honorably discharged in 1946 having attained the rank of Major. Dr. Devanney returned to Cincinnati and began his post-graduate training in neurosurgery at the UC College of Medicine. In 1950 he went into private practice, although during the 50s he was also an instructor of neurosurgery in the UC College of Medicine and a neuropathologist at General Hospital. From 1959 until 1975 he was a member of the UC College of Medicine faculty and held a number of research positions including head of the Neurophysiological Laboratory and a director of the National Stroke Project at UC. During his medical career he authored more than thirty research papers. "John was a very fine surgeon, but more than that he was a great friend and wonderful family man," said Dr. Howard Pfister, a fellow surgeon and close friend for more than sixty years. Dr. Devanney supported numerous Catholic charities including the Glenmary Home Missioners whom he also served as their doctor. In 1938 he married Margaret(Peggy) Coll. Soon after WWII they established their home on what is now Section Road in Amberely Village where they lived for thirty-five years and raised their nine children. As an early resident, he was active in village affairs serving for many years on the Amberely Village Planning Commission. In 1984 his beloved wife Peggy died of cancer. During his time in the Army Air Force he learned to fly and in retirement enjoyed anything to do with planes. For a number of years he and his brother Mike had a business selling Bellanca aircraft. He also enjoyed travel, especially to Ireland. "Dad was the moral center of our family-absolutely dependable, always there, and equally proud of each of 'his kids' ", said his youngest son Dick. Survivors include his beloved wife of seventeen years, Margaret Hickey Devanney; four daughters, Alice Maggini of Cincinnati; Cathy Devanney of Brandon, FL; Peggy Devanney of Cincinnati; and Mary Misdom of Dallas, TX; five sons, Jack of Tavernier, FL; Dave of High Cay, Bahamas; Jim of Cincinnati; Tom of Sequatchie, TN; Dick of Warrington, VA; a sister Debbie Devitt and a brother Mike Devanney both of Cincinnati; ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Services have been held. Burial was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Memorials: Little Sisters of the Poor or the Franciscans at St. Francis Seraph Church.

Service

Wednesday, October 1, 2003 10:00 AM St. Rose Church 2501 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati 45202, United States