HADLEY — Whether you’re going through a tragedy or are in need of support, everyone needs a hero at times in life. Denise Devine has been that for many in the Hadley community through her fierce activism supporting students, families and those in need.
“She’s kind of my hero, she’s done a lot for her community, especially for the town of Hadley,” said Devine’s daughter, Kelley Dunphy. “She’s kind, she’s loving, she cares more about others than herself.”
Devine’s selflessness and volunteer work led her to be named the Daily Hampshire Gazette’s 2026 Person of the Year on Thursday. Devine is a parent and business owner, but most in the community know her as a friend.
“It’s very humbling to me,” Devine said about receiving the award in an interview on Monday.
A Hadley resident for 33 years, Devine has spent nearly all that time with the Hadley Mothers’ Club, serving as a member, and most recently, as its president. She has helped lead fundraisers for schools and local Scout troops and organized candidate forums.
In addition to her time with the Mothers’ Club, Devine served a combined 14 years on local school councils and nearly 20 years with the Parent Teacher Organization. She also spent more than 20 years on the Special Education Parent Advisory Council and volunteered with the Girl Scouts of Hadley. Devine is the religious education director at Most Holy Redeemer Church and co-owns Devine Overhead Doors in Hadley with her husband, Gerry.
While she has spearheaded many initiatives, Devine — whom Dunphy described as selfless — said none of her work would be possible without the support of others.
“All of this for me is possible because there are teams behind me, so it’s not just me that created any of this,” Devine said.
Devine is the 12th recipient of the Person of the Year, which is awarded in partnership with the United Way of the Franklin and Hampshire Region to a Hampshire County resident who has shown “a profound commitment to selflessly helping others.” The award comes with a $500 check, half of which will be donated to a charity of her choice. It was presented Thursday during an awards ceremony at the United Way’s annual meeting at the Look Park Garden House.
In receiving the honor, Devine told a crowd of more than 150 people that she is sharing the award with three key “teams” in her life: her friends at the Hadley Mothers’ Club, a networking group at Fragile X Syndrome; and her immediate and extended family, especially her husband of 40 years and daughter.
“I do appreciate greatly the award,” she said.
Many of the friendships Devine has made along the way stem from her years of community service. She said she and other members of the Mothers’ Club often get together for dinner and host gatherings at local restaurants.
“She has no excuses with everything on her plate and she still does it,” said Peg Jekanowski, a friend of Devine’s and a member of the Hadley Mothers’ Club.
Reflecting on a difficult tragedy in her life, Jekanowski said Devine was the first person to show up at her door to check on her. When she thinks of Devine, Jekanowski said, she is reminded of 1 Corinthians 13, which she believes embodies her friend’s character.
Verses 4 to 7 state, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
“That is her; that is who Denise [Devine] is,” Jekanowski said.
Devine’s daughter particularly admires her mother for founding and leading the western Massachusetts local chapter of the National Fragile X Foundation, an organization that began in 1984 to support people impacted by Fragile X syndrome.
The Devine family’s journey with Fragile X started when Denise and Gerry Devine’s son, Patrick Devine, 35, was diagnosed at the age of 2. Devine said that Fragile X Syndrome is a genetic disease similar to autism in some ways, which impacts the X chromosome.
“Our son Patrick has Fragile X Syndrome and we found that out when he was about two years old,” Devine said. “Back then, that was a pretty early diagnosis because it was still pretty unknown.”
At that time, Devine and her husband began learning about the syndrome. That is when she discovered the national foundation which hosts a yearly Fragile X conference to support families impacted by the syndrome. Devine said she went to her first conference with a friend and some years later, in 2010, Devine brought her daughter to one of the conferences.
While Dunphy was hesitant at first as a teenager, she looks back at the leap she took with her mother as a life-changing experience.
“I was a bit skeptical of it because it was all very new to me, but she [Devine] said you can learn more,” Dunphy recalled. “She encouraged me to get on this flight and go to the conference and now, I don’t want to ever miss a conference again.”
At the conference, Dunphy participated in a sibling program that year, which she said helped teach her how to support her brother. Devine said she could see her two kids’ relationship grow after that conference.
“I remember after one day she [Dunphy] said to me, ‘Everybody (at the conference) has a Patrick at home,'” Devine said. “It seemed like she felt like she met her people.”
Since starting the local chapter of the foundation in 1997, Devine said she has supported upward of 100 families impacted by Fragile X Syndrome in the area. “Since then it’s amazing what’s been happening with the foundation,” she said, adding that she will continue to attend Fragile X conferences, going to the conference next month, while staying involved in her local community.
Just as Devine did for Dunphy, passing on a passion for advocacy, Devine said her mother is one of her inspirations for being involved in her community. “I think it really started with my mom. She was kind of my inspiration of volunteering and giving back. She would always do extra.”
