Catherine Devlin
Obituary Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.
Catherine Flynn Devlin Jr., a longtime Mount Kisco resident, died Jan. 28 after a long illness. She was 79.
Affectionately known as “Cappy,” she was born on Nov. 6, 1941 in the Bronx to Robert H. Devlin Sr. and Catherine Flynn Devlin. Cappy graduated from Manhattanville College with a bachelor’s in economics, where she continued to be an active alumna.
Following her graduation, she held various positions in public relations and journalism at Reader’s Digest and Ticketron. A three-month trip to Europe inspired her to establish Cappy’s Travel and Cappy Devlin International, Inc. in Mount Kisco and Manhattan in 1973. Her motto and passion was “The world is open to you. Experience it.” She was well known for her entrepreneurial skills, which enabled her to operate her travel business for over 40 years while navigating a changing industry – including developing a patented travel kiosk, building an online travel business and hosting a live travel radio show in her 70s. She relished bringing the joy of travel to clients.
In 1973, she co-founded Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, a pioneering international travel and exchange program for youth, which is still in operation today. Highlights include gaining admission to communist China with Brown University choral students and meeting Mother Teresa in India, who remained a lifelong inspiration for her.
Cappy enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Although self-described as “shy,” she was always the life of the party with a love for music, dancing and champagne.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Loretta (Robin), and her brother, Robert (Rick). She is survived by her brother, Dennis, many nieces and nephews, friends and former colleagues.
A memorial funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Mount Kisco on Saturday, Aug. 14 at 11:30 a.m.
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