Horrible, shocking news. Darcy was genuinely one of the kindest, gentlest people I’ve ever had the honor to befriend. My…
In Memoriam
Darcy Campion Devney, 64, of Arlington, MA, died on December 6, 2024 of chronic interstitial lung disease.
Darcy was the loving wife of Robert M. Kuhn, whom she met while he pursued his Harvard University Ph.D. in mathematics. They married in 1986. In their time together, Bob calculates that they exchanged significantly more than 1,000,000 kisses.
She is deeply missed by her sister Elizabeth Devney; her brother Michael Devney of Cambridge; and her brother Robert Devney Jr. of North Attleboro, as well as his partner Maureen Boyd of Bourne.
Born September 14, 1960, in West Chester, PA, Darcy was the daughter of Robert Emmet Devney Sr. and Kathryn Shirley (Campion) Devney. A 1978 graduate of Brookline High School, in 1986 she earned a B.S. in corporate communications and management from Boston University.
Darcy worked in administration at Harvard for 22 years, for departments including Harvard Magazine, Cabot House, and the Office for Sponsored Research. She retired in 2001 due to disabling autoimmune disorders.
Anybody would tell you Darcy was the most organized person they knew. She owned three label makers. Marshaling her minions (friends and family), with meticulous planning she could carry off a move — from one stuffed 2-story house to another — in 2 hours flat. As members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, she and Bob once spearheaded a 1-day reenactment of a medieval university in Harvard’s Memorial Hall. Several thousand attendees enjoyed lectures on mathematics, rhetoric, astronomy, theology, and natural philosophy, plus historical crafts and costumes, jongleurs, and authentic period (though freshly baked) meat pies.
You might say Darcy wrote the book on organization. Or anyway, a book: Organizing Special Events and Conferences: A Practical Guide for Busy Volunteers and Staff (1990, revised 2001). Which she followed with The Volunteer’s Survival Manual: The Only Practical Guide to Giving Your Time & Money (1992). When able, she gave generously of her own volunteer time. As a member (and sometime chair) of Arlington’s Disability Commission, she led a campaign that added 27 handicap placard parking spaces at critical locations, more than doubling the town’s previous total.
When multiple illnesses left her unable to walk beyond short distances without frequent rest stops, Darcy persevered in seeing the world. Her visit with Bob to northern Wales this spring capped decades of happy travel throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, as well as to his native Australia.
She loved books, music, theater, movies, TV, birthday parties, and car washes. With kindness, humor, gentle persistence, and creative solutions to problems great and small (personal, logistical, or bureaucratic), she improved her friends’ and family’s lives … as much as they would let her. She taught us to say “I love you” at the end of every conversation. We love you, Darcy.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Arlington EATS at www.arlingtoneats.org, or to Robbins Library at www.robbinslibrary.org. To share a memory or condolences, please leave a reply below. Interment in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, will be private. A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.
- Memories and Condolences
We, Darcy’s husband Bob and siblings Bob, Liz, and Michael, encourage you to leave us your thoughts.
Beautiful tribute to Darcy. Please accept our sincere condolences. Love and hugs to her family.
Frank and I send our sincere condolences to the family. Darcy will be in our prayers. Sending love and hugs…
I met my cousin Darcy when I was a few years old and she joined us on a road trip…
I worked as a reference librarian at the Cambridge Public Library for many years. I always loved seeing Darcy and…
My apologies for how long it took me to get the comments to display. As you can imagine, web designing…
Dear Michael, I’m so sorry for your loss of your sister Darcy. I remember meeting Darcy at Harvard and she…
We met when we were twelve, both with curious minds and loving hearts. Not a recipe for success in middle…
My deepest sympathies.
I was privileged to call Darcy a close friend for over 40 years. My wife and I enjoyed many teas,…
Dear Robert, I am so saddened by this news. It was an honor to co-chair the Disability Commission with her…
This is a lovely tribute. It is hard to wrap my mind around the fact that she was busily raking…
I didn’t know she wrote actual books on organization!
I’m so sorry for your loss, or should I write that the world was so blessed to have Darcy in…
I was saddened to learn of her passing. Through the world of SF conventions I became acquainted with various Devneys…
In my late teens and early twenties, you were one of my role models with your passion, generous spirit, and…
Just heartbroken to hear of Darcy’s passing. I met Darcy at the Y and looked forward to seeing her every…
I admired Darcy’s persistence to improve conditions for the disabled. Thank you.
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