Longtime Teacher, Football Coach, Politician, Joe McDevitt Dies

Sad news this morning about a well-known local South Jersey guy. Joe McDevitt died last night at his home in Ventnor at age 53.

McDevitt was a teacher at Atlantic City High School for more than 25 years and operating owner of Leprechaun Lawn for nearly 30 years. He was also an assistant football coach at Holy Spirit High School and had also previously been a football coach for Atlantic City High School.

Football played a big part in the McDevitt family and, according to his Holy Spirit Football Team bio,

Joe played football for the Ventnor Pirates as a Junior Youth and was the starting Tight End for Holy Spirit in 1983 and 1984. Joe started every game in 1983 and 1984 and made the All Atlantic County All Star team his Senior year. Joe's Father, Robert McDevitt played for Holy Spirit from 1948-51 and his brother Bob played from 1976-79. Joe played college football for West Chester in 1988 and the Rams were ranked as high as 2nd in the nation that season. In 1989 became a Ventnor Pirate Varsity Offensive and Defensive Line coach.

McDevitt was a former Atlantic County Freeholder and ran unsuccessfully for Ventnor City Commissioner in 2016

McDevitt, who graduated from Stockton State College in 1991, was a member of the New Jersey Education Association. Hs brother, Bob McDevitt, is the head of Local 54 of UNITE-HERE.

McDevitt is survived by his wife Ailyn, daughter Joselyn and son Robert. His cause of death has not been released.