James Devine, who worked to restore state recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation, dies at 72

James Devine, the last enrolled member of the Montaukett Indian Nation living in the hamlet of Montauk who served on the tribal council and worked tirelessly to restore the nation’s state recognition, died June 23 of complications from stomach cancer, according to a fellow Montaukett leader. He was 72.

Devine, who for 27 years was night manager at the Montauk Manor resort, near the site of a Montaukett burial ground and historic meeting place, was known to locals as the man who wore multicolored shirts during his daily walks from Montauk to Amagansett. He said the walks were a tribute to another famous Montaukett tribal member, Stephen Taukus "Talkhouse" Pharaoh.

He lived until his death in a home that bounded Camp Hero at Montauk Point State Park. His backyard encompassed more than 1,000 acres of state parkland, all of it once Montaukett territory.

Sandi Brewster-walker, executive director of the Montaukett Nation who has led the tribe’s effort to restore state recognition, said Devine was instrumental in helping her conduct research and drum up support for the decade-long effort. She said Devine, like many of the nearly 1,500 remaining enrolled members, was crestfallen following each of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s four vetoes of the state-recognition measure despite widespread support and annual passage in both houses of the State Legislature.

"Recognition was very important to him," said Brewster-walker, a cousin of Devine. "He felt very disappointed by Hochul’s vetoes and the fact that she didn’t know any of the history."

Traced lineage to father

Devine traced his Montaukett lineage to his father, Milford Devine, a descendent of the Montauk Fowler family whose legacy he worked to preserve through establishment of the Fowler House in East Hampton. His mother was Mamie Israel Devine.

Devine, who was born on May 25, 1954, was at 25 days old "placed in the loving care of Nellie and Francis LaPorte, whom he considered his parents," he wrote in an obituary before his passing. He was raised among his Montaukett relatives in East Hampton, he wrote, and he learned of his Montaukett heritage late in life. From age 40 he became "deeply involved with the Montaukett Nation" and was elected to the council, where he advocated for recognition and wrote, "Ten Principles of Purpose," as a way to "guide the future of the Montaukett people," he wrote.

He was a frequent visitor to and documentarian of the tribe’s last-known historic village at what is now Big Reed Pond County Park on East Lake Drive in Montauk. Devine also wrote the inscription for the Council Rock historic marker at Fort Hill Cemetery, detailing the site and boulder’s iconic status in Native Long Island history.

Proud of ancestry

Robert Pharaoh, chief of the Montaukett Nation, said on Wednesday he had been preparing to attend the service for Devine in Montauk last week when he learned of the passing of another Montaukett, his cousin, Charles Pharaoh, of Sag Harbor. Charlie Pharoah, as he was known, was 54 and a landscaper, with deep Montaukett roots.

"They were two people very proud of their Montaukett ancestry," Pharaoh said Monday of Devine and Charlie Pharaoh. Devine was "instrumental helping with the documents" to prepare for the state-recognition effort, and in resolving internal tribal tiffs, while "Charlie was a Montaukett Indian all the way. He’d go to pow wow all the time and he was very aware of his heritage and the history behind his family."

Devine in his bio wrote that he earned a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University and a master's in theology from Fordham University.

Devine is survived by brothers William Harris, Douglas Tilton, Marvin Collins and John Hayes and a sister, Greta Pryor, as well as two half-brothers, Ramon Devine and William Israel. He’s also survived by a nephew, Matthew McHugh. He was predeceased by a sister, Mary McHugh Nelson, and a brother, Curtis Mabry.

A Mass was celebrated for Devine on June 30 at the Church of St. Therese of Lisieux in Montauk. He was buried beside his parents at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton.

By Mark Harrington

mark.harrington@newsday.comMHarringtonNews

Mark Harrington, a Newsday reporter since 1999, covers energy, wineries, Indian affairs and fisheries.