Margaret (“Meg”) Mary DeVita Jack died at home in the loving arms of her family on June 23, 2025 after a long battle with cancer.
Meg was born on March 27, 1947, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Peter L. Devita Jr. and Helen Barlett DeVita, who predeceased her.
She is survived, and was immeasurably loved, by her husband of 49 years, Gary Michael Jack, and her daughter, Dr. Allison Elizabeth Jack, together with her grandson, Peter Tekulve and son in law Todd Tekulve. Her memory lives on as well in her brother, Peter L. DeVita III, together with his wife Denise and Meg’s nieces Carolyn, Jennifer, and their families. She was grateful for the love she and her father received from her stepmother Mary Ann DeVita after her mother’s passing; as well as that from her stepbrother, Scott Wesley, his wife Pam, and their families, including their children Christina, Stephen, and Anna.
Meg graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Elementary Education and taught for three years in DeKalb County, GA. Deciding that a move might be fun and an adventure, she moved to Va Beach, VA to teach, and taught in the Va Beach School System.
Meg met and married Gary in October 1976, making Va Beach her home. They immediately moved to Key West, FL where Gary was assigned to train pilots for the Navy. Though discouraged by others from looking for employment in such a small community, she stubbornly insisted on teaching and found and accepted a position for a semester working in a Catholic middle school, though the senior nun who hired her warned her that two teachers had already left the position that year. Never one to be defeated, she managed to control and teach the classes and finish the year.
In the following two years, she was employed to teach in one of the two local public elementary schools. She taught 1st grade and then 4th grade, becoming Teacher of the Year for the school. Upon return to Va Beach, she was re-employed by the Virginia Beach System and remained there until the birth of her daughter, Allison. Knowing that Gary would often be deployed, and believing motherhood was her ultimate calling, she decided to stay at home with Allison so her attention could be focused on raising her daughter with the values she held dear.
Ever the teacher and “mother” to many, she sought employment when Allison went to first grade. She joined the faculty of Norfolk Academy and remained there until she retired. During this time, she attained a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Old Dominion University, with a thesis concentrated on teaching and understanding the elements of guiding young children to learn to read. She first taught fourth grade girls, and then moved into the Lower School library to create and execute a program of reading, writing and oral presentations for first through fourth graders. She often said this was her dream job, as it allowed her to create and develop curriculum and execute it as well, while she worked with many children every day. She also developed a creative writing program in the form of writing poetry, sharing that with 3rd and 4th grade students and teachers. She also guided and organized the Lower School Forensics program, an oral competition among area independent schools. The laughter and spontaneity kept her young at heart, she said, and retirement was bittersweet.
She retired in 2012 and spent several years volunteering her teaching skills in several area schools. She spent retirement sewing, gardening, reading, enjoying long walks and taking joy in watching her grandson, Peter, grow.
She was a lifelong member of Star of the Sea Catholic Church, where she served as a Lector for many years. In her final days, she expressed receiving comfort from reciting the Hail Holy Queen, and was grateful to receive the Blessed Sacrament from her priest, Father Steve, on the evening before she died.
In her last days, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude for the compassionate care she received throughout her illness from Dr. Scott Cross and his team at Virginia Oncology Associates, including Kathy Sharp, Barb Piper, Narlie Amulong, Emily Kamppi, Xuan Arnette, and Leigh Wood.
Her family is immensely thankful for the end of life care she received from the Wings Over Virginia hospice team. Gary and Allison wish to express their special gratitude to Brenda Yetter for accompanying them together with Meg on the last night of her life, and helping provide Meg comfort as she died.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation by clicking donate to Star of the Sea parish or to Meg’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s, to support the care of children with cancer.
