Carl P. DeVasto

DeVasto – Carl P., of Westwood, died October 5th, 2011.

Beloved husband of Mary R. (Tedesco) DeVasto for 68 years. Loving father of Daniel DeVasto and his wife Katherine of Sharon, Paul DeVasto and his wife Linda of Sharon, Mary Ciriello of Wellesley, Josephine McGoff and her husband Brendan of Norwood, Raymond DeVasto of Wellesley and the late Carl H. DeVasto. Devoted grandfather of Jeff, Angela, Carolyn, Peter, Daniel, Jack, Victoria and Elizabeth. Also survived by 5 great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews. Brother of the late Josephine Visconte, Rose Nocca, Mary Settana and Raymond DeVasto.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St., (off Route 109) Westwood on Friday Oct. 7th from 4-8pm. The funeral will begin at the funeral home on Saturday morning Oct. 8th at 9am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret Mary Church at 10am. Interment with military honors at New Westwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carl's memory to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham at www.BIDNeedham.org.

Carl was a highly decorated U.S. Army Veteran of WWII.

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Mr. DeVasto was a Westwood resident for fifty-six years. He and his wife Mary raised six children. He founded and built the Oak View Food Store in Westwood in 1955 and operated it with his family until he retired in 1980. Mr. DeVasto was a seventeen year active member of the Westwood Democratic Town Committee, retiring as Vice Chairman.

Mr. DeVasto was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and moved to Roslindale with his family at an early age. He was educated in the Boston school system and graduated from Boston English High School in 1937.

Nine months before Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the United Sates Army, joining the 101st Infantry Regiment of the 26th Infantry Division. Mr. DeVasto served with General George S. Patton's 3rd Army in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. His was among the first combat units to engage a major German Offensive in the Ardennes in December, 1944. It became known as "The Battle of the Bulge".

Mr. DeVasto received many honors, including the Bronze Star medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, and four Battle Stars for the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe Campaigns. In 1996, he was the recipient of the 101st Infantry Veterans "Man of the Year"award. In June, 2010, Mr. DeVasto was inducted as a Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor.

Mr. DeVasto was an avid writer and student of World War II. He authored "Campaign Ardennes", a summary of the Battle of the Bulge and contributed to many military and community publications to keep the memory of the achievements of World War II alive.
Mr. DeVasto was a member of Common Cause and numerous military veteran's organizations.

Mr. DeVasto was a history buff and loved to travel. He returned to Europe on several occasions with his wife Mary of 68 years and other family members to pay homage to the memory of his fallen comrades. He sponsored legislation which resulted in the renaming of Roslindale Square in honor of his boyhood friend, Henry F. Canty, who was the first casualty of their company on October 27, 1944.