Sussex County-Norfolk City Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Devany, Edward H., 2011 

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EDWARD HEATH DEVANY 

  CHAPEL HILL - Edward H. Devany passed away on September 22, 2011 at the age 
81.  Born to Mary Hull Wells and Edward Hardy Devany in Norfolk, Va., on 
August 15, 1930, Ed was a playful and loving spirit.  He loved good stories 
and big productions, beginning with a childhood obsession with the circus. 
Ed developed his own voice into that of an accomplished writer and director 
whose works spanned from theatre to early television and, ultimately, social 
activism.

  Ed married Mary Langley Peebles on August 22, 1953, in New York City.  They 
shared a love of music, theatre, literature, and their family.  They had four 
children who, until the final days of his life, were the center of Ed’s world.

  Ed’s professional work received early accolades.  He was published in The 
Best Short Plays of 1958, the same year he directed the first production of 
Paul Green’s "The Confederacy" in Virginia Beach.  He directed the first full-
length television ballet (Sleeping Beauty) and the New York Times deemed his 
"the father of coffee house theatre."  His directing work at WNYE in New York 
earned his Emmy awards.  In the 1970’s, Ed moved to Austin, Texas, to become 
the head writer and director of the national PBS series Sonrisas, one of the 
first bilingual shows in the country.

  He returned to the east coast in the eighties as an artist in residence in 
N. Carolina.  Ed wrote a regular column for "Our State" magazine, the Sanford 
Herald, and the Charlotte Observer.  Ed also served as chair for Chapel Hill 
City Council’s Human Services Advisory Board.

  Even while the light of his life faded, Ed’s passion to write remained 
strong.  He continued to work on his poetry until the end, funding inspiration 
in stories of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchild.

  He is survived by his best friend of 65 years, Polly Devany, and their 
children and families; Vicky Devany and David Steinberg, Betsy and John 
MacLeod (Stephanie, Sarah and Ava), Charlie and Carolyn Devany (Reed and 
Bonnie), Cathy and Vince Serio (Sofi and Lili).  He was preceded in death by 
his sister, Virginia Devany Davies.

  The family would like to thank UNC Family Medicine for years of skilled and 
compassionate care.

  A service was held Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Cross, Chapel Hill, 
NC.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chapel of Cross, 314 
Franklin St., in memory of Ed Davany.


Edward Heath DEVANY, writer & director - "father of coffee house theatre," 
b. 15 Aug 1930, Norfolk, d. 22 Sep 2011, Chapel Hill, Orange Co., NC, 
marked in Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Churchyard*, Chapel Hill, NC, 
listed in Wakefield Cemetery**, 
"The News and Observer" (Raleigh, NC), Oct. 2, 2011, A-8 

*Find a Grave Mem. #88340774 

**His parents are buried there.  Wakefield list, an extension of the 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/cemeteries/wakefd.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/sussex/obits/d150e1ob.txt