Devin I. Van Brunt

ITHACA- Devin I. Van Brunt, 24, of Ithaca, NY died on March 25 in a terrible car accident near
Harrisburg, PA.
 
Devin was born on September 5, 1999 in Gaithersburg, MD to Brandy Bell and Steve Crowley, and
adopted by Rob Van Brunt and Deb Caraco, then of Bethesda, MD. Devin attended Ithaca City schools,
and graduated from Hyde School in Bath, ME. He also attended Buffalo State College and Santa
Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, CA.
Devin loved nature and animals. Throughout his life he always enjoyed camping, fishing, and seeing
new natural areas. Growing up he would spend hours in local creeks and loved camping and kayaking
in the Adirondacks. When he lived in the Western United States, he fell in love with the canyons of
Utah and always wanted to return. He spent many hours enjoying the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara
and he couldn’t stop talking about El Yunque Forest in Puerto Rico. Back at home in Ithaca, he made
time to “go to nature” with friends, taking time to enjoy a hike or take in a view. As a child, he was the
kid walking his bunny (Pablo) on a leash or saving an orphaned squirrel (Despereaux). He also loved all
cats and dogs.
Devin loved food and taking in the sights and restaurants in new cities. He might just show up with
ingredients for a new recipe and get everyone to participate in making it, or find the coolest, fanciest
restaurant or little back door place. He could act as a tour guide to cities he had never visited, never
afraid to find out more or ask locals where to eat or what to see. And he loved to see others
experience that same joy, even convincing friends who had never seen mountains to drive cross
country with him.
Most of all, Devin loved people, and wanted to bring them along with him for everything. Growing up
on North Aurora St. he was like a magnet, drawing kids from around the neighborhood to play
basketball in the driveway or just come in and hang out. He had a rare ability to feel comfortable with
people from different backgrounds and ages. Everyone who has met him remembers his warm smile
and charm, but more importantly how deeply he loved the people in his life. His close friends will tell
you he didn’t just make the effort to know them, but became close with their parents and other family
members. He was very close with his family; his sister Desiree was a close lifelong friend, and he was
his niece Malia’s favorite person (besides her Mommy).
Devin is survived by his grandfathers Harry Caraco and James Van Brunt, parents Deb Caraco and Rob
Van Brunt, sister Desiree, niece Malia; aunts and uncles Jim, Becky, Mike, Heather, Karen, Nina, Nancy,
Jean, Pete, Cindy and Tim; and cousins Heather, Skylar, Liam, Sean, Stephanie, Kim, Kristy, Rob, Dee,
Jim, Matt, Brian, Aaron and Tyler. He is also survived by his birth family including his parents Brandy
Bell and Steve Crowley, and brothers Brandon and Christian Bell and Dimitri Yankey. He is predeceased
by his grandmothers Janet Van Brunt and Mary Caraco, and uncles John and Jon.
Devin had so many dreams and ideas; his friends and family are heartbroken. We never got to see
what he would do with the rest of the time he had, but we were so lucky to experience the time we
had with him.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Devin I. Van Brunt, please visit our Tree Store.