Devin "Belvedere" Shea

It is with the most profound sadness that we announce the passing of Devin “Belvedere” Shea on July 10, 2024 at UMASS Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family, due to complications from ventricular tachycardia. He was 44 years old. 

He will be remembered and missed by his parents Jim and Linda (Wickeri) Shea of Hudson, sister Kerin Shea of Hudson, brother Jamie Shea and his wife Teri of Framingham, nieces Symphony Shea and Sonnet Shea, nephew Dunnivan Shea, and many beloved cousins.

Devin was born on November 26, 1979, the youngest child of three. He attended Hudson High School (Class of 1997). Dubbed “Mr. Hudson”, he spent his entire life in Hudson and in Orleans, Cape Cod. He loved not only the people of Hudson and Orleans, but he loved the towns themselves. He loved the waters, the beaches, the buildings and the history. He was invested in the two towns, and collected and preserved memorabilia from both towns since he was a child in his family’s antique shop.

Devin graduated UMASS Dartmouth with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art + Design: Graphic Design (Class of 2001.) He was incredibly artistic and creative, making the perfect gift at the perfect time. He was exceedingly handy, enjoying fixing and restoring things. He helped to restore his family’s beloved cottage “The Surf” at the Cape, and put many unique “Devin” touches in, such as antique porthole windows and mirrors.

Devin was an exceptional pool player, learning to play at the Odd Fellows Hall (above the family antique store) and then at On Cue Billiards in Hudson when he was 13 years old. After college, he worked at Gee Cues Billiards in Marlborough. He won more pool tournaments than can be counted, and has competed nationally in Las Vegas nine times, in eight-ball, nine-ball and ten-ball tournaments. He ran the Massachusetts Eagles Eight-Ball Tournament whenever the Hudson club hosted. As half of a two-man team, he won that tournament eight times. He also enjoyed playing Pitch, Cribbage and darts.

Devin was also an avid fisherman and sportsman. He loved spending time at his summer home in Orleans, Cape Cod, always making time to stop for a few casts under the Railroad Bridge along the Cape Cod Canal, on his way down and back. He loved to go clamming and quahogging, and brought many a bushel home to share with dear friends, for impromptu backyard clamboils, chowders, or a batch of 2:00 AM baked-stuffed quahogs.

Whether you called him Devin, Dev, Belvedere, Belvs or Bells, that told someone immediately how you knew him. He was so much to so many, and yet always made you feel like the only person in the room. He was a beloved son, sibling, brother-in-law, uncle, colleague, team captain, teammate, confidante, honorary brother, and most of all, loyal friend. 

Devin was loved by many and he loved you back even more. When asking friends to sum him up in a single sentence, the same qualities came up again and again. He was an amazing person, kind and loving. He always made himself available to anyone in need and would do anything for anyone. He helped so many people and touched so many lives. He would always show up when needed, no matter what it took to get there, whether it was to give a hand or just be there as a friend, a shoulder to cry on, or just to say nothing and give you the best hugs. 

Devin was a kind soul who could always make you laugh. Even if there was nothing to talk about, he was the friend who would find something and turn it into a joke. His laugh was infectious, along with a smile that would brighten up the room. He was a great guy who, no matter who you were or what mood you were in, could always put a smile on your face and was there for you when you needed him, no matter how well he knew you. He was an old soul who brought a certain type of happiness into people's lives, and had the ability to make people feel like they were on a field trip when in his company. He was always happy as he made his way about town, like a Mayor would during a campaign. He was the funniest, most thoughtful, creative, and unconditionally-himself human being, no matter the occasion.

Devin was incredibly intelligent and wildly clever. He had a memory like an elephant and used it to his hilarious advantage. (Don’t let him know your soft spot!) He remembered things about everybody, which showed he listened. He had the most creative mind, almost like an engineer. He could take the smallest piece of “junk”, turn it into something so special for someone, and it came from his heart. Or he would decorate something or hide something in your home, just waiting for you to find it.

Devin was, at his core, a caring and decent man. He could be both tough and soft-hearted, hilarious and serious. He was incredibly complex, yet understood for each person he knew just what special combination of his personality they needed most. That is the one thing that sums up Devin the most, the one thing that he was incredibly rich with – love. He loved everyone and was loved by everyone. If you ever met him, if you ever were introduced to him, you were his friend. He loved you all.

Please join us in celebrating Devin’s/Belvedere’s indominable wit and spirit at a Celebration of Life at the Hudson Elks (99 Park St.) on July 28, 2024, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM. Bring your favorite memories, photos and keepsakes. Ashes will be scattered at a later date, in a private ceremony on the family’s property in Cape Cod.