Alex Devience
Professor Emeritus Alex Devience, a management faculty member at DePaul’s Driehaus College of Business for 45 years, died on June 13.
An extraordinarily dedicated teacher and mentor, Devience inspired generations of business students and generously guided colleagues. An attorney as well as a professor, Devience taught business law and other subjects at DePaul, and he continued to teach through spring quarter of this year.
“Alex always had a story, joke or interesting anecdote he would drop by and share,” says Lisa Gundry, chair of the Department of Management & Entrepreneurship. “At our department meetings, he was known as the master of Robert’s Rules, and always kept us on track. He was brilliant in the law, and at teaching business law, and made such a positive impact on students who chose to continue their careers in law.”
Jim Staruck (BUS ’65), an assistant professor in the department and fellow attorney, was among those Devience guided. “I’ve known Alex for over 40 years,” he says. “He had the most wry sense of humor, always had a smile, and was an excellent advisor to me.”
Sam Manella (BUS ’81. JD ’85), a clinical professor and Devience’s colleague at the business college, remembers Devience for his love of the law. “Many times we spoke about ethical issues in the law, which is my specialty, and he had so much to offer. He was a very smart man.”
“He had a great rapport with his students,” Manella added. “Many of them who subsequently had a class with me spoke highly of Alex to me. He will be missed.”
Devience is survived by his wife, Arlene, of 59 years; his ward, Mark, and 11 nieces and nephews. Services were private, with interment at Town of Maine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Alex’s name. To read more, visit OehlerFuneralHome.
By Kathy Hillegonds and Robin Florzak
