“No dress rehearsal. This is our life.” – The Tragically Hip
Alen “Fuzzy” Devlin was ahead of us all – by a century, at least – when it came to kindness, generosity, and unselfishness; character traits sought by many but embodied by few. Fuzzy came by these naturally, and for the family left behind to grieve his sudden death at the age of
61, his positive outlook on life will be his lasting legacy.
Born Alen Charles Devlin in Victoria, to parents Pat and John Devlin, the beloved father, husband, son, brother, and friend was known to everyone as Fuzzy, a nickname that dates back 45 years to his early days in the warehouse and as a salesman at Fuzzy Wuzzy Carpets. The nickname stuck, even as he went on to open his own company, Comino Flooring, nearly three decades ago.
Fuzzy was the husband and best friend of Paula, with whom he shared 36 years of love, life, and countless memories. He was her rock, her protector, and the person who stood by her through the ups and downs of life. Their life together was built on love, friendship, and a bond that will forever remain in the hearts of Paula and their children, daughter Carli and sons Cameron and Joel.
Always the biggest kid in the room, he was a natural at being a dad. Family trips to Mexico, Disneyland and Las Vegas were great memories for the family and will leave lasting memories for his kids, and return trips to Las Vegas for carpet conventions or trips with his father John let him flex his card-playing muscle and exceptional good luck. Trips to Las Vegas also gave him the chance to see some of his favourite artists in concert. Music was a lifelong passion and even if he never got the words right, nothing would light his fire like The Tragically Hip or AC/DC. His infectious love of music carried over to his younger siblings, sister Catherine and brother Michael.
His kids were everything to Al, and he spent years at hockey rinks, lacrosse boxes, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. He never missed his sons’ practices or games, often with his father by his side and his beloved dogs, Ralph and Vivi, nearby. Both Fuzzy and JD were avid sports fans and would be outfitted in some manner of Seattle Seahawks or Seattle Mariners gear, two of Fuzzy’s favourite teams. Fuzzy also had a deep, special connection with daughter Carli, who was a ray of sunshine in his life. He went above and beyond to ensure Carli was happy and had everything she needed in life.
His store on Quadra Street was uniquely him: A little disorganized, but always welcoming. He was the go-to guy for a fair deal, which eventually became both his business model and a point of pride. He liked helping people; even if he did so quietly, without fanfare, being a good person mattered to Alen.
He was also a top-tier teammate during his decades in sports. He played soccer and basketball and was great at golf, but lacrosse was where he shone on teams like Saanich Evening Optimists, Victoria Seaspray, and Esquimalt Junior ‘A’ Legion. His career with the Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse club was especially notable, winning him the sportsmanship (1990) and defensive player of the year (1990 and 1993) trophies with the former Victoria Payless, while amassing more than 200 career points with the Shamrocks. He never quite got over retiring the year before the Shamrocks won the Mann Cup in 1996, but never regretted making the decision to spend more time with his family.
Predeceased by his parents, he is survived by wife Paula; daughter Carli; sons Cameron (Lauren) and Joel; sister Catherine (Roch) and brother Michael (Maggie); sister-in-law Allison (Steve); mother-in-law Ruby (Dale); nephews James, Jonah, and Jordan; nieces Lauren, Sadie, Stella, and Violet; aunt Diane and cousin Chris (Marianne); and many close friends.
His passing leaves an immeasurable hole in the hearts of those who loved him. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, loyalty, generosity, laughter, and, above all, love for his family. Though he may no longer be here in person, the memories he created, the lessons he taught, and the love he gave will live on in the hearts of his family and friends forever.
A special thank-you to the ICU staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their incredible care, especially Dr. Peter Sherk and kind nurses Kerry, Gabriel, Zach, and Danielle. Your care and respect for Al during his time of need was remarkable. A Celebration of Life for Al will be held Friday, November 13, at 2 p.m. at the Victoria Scottish Community Centre, 1803 Admirals Rd. We encourage all friends and former teammates to
join his family as we remember, honour, and celebrate this remarkable person. Please sport your Seahawks paraphernalia or blue and green clothing of any kind to honour the 12th Man community that was dear to Fuzzy’s heart.
Rest peacefully, Fuzzy. You are Number 17 in our Shamrocks program but Number 1 in the hearts of those who knew you, even for a moment.
Deeply loved, forever missed, and never to be forgotten.
