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Barbara Hogan Devlin
A beautiful lady who personifies resilience through her resourcefulness and self-assured manner, Barbara Devlin was a delight to interview. Although well past traditional retirement age, this lady is not typical of her generation. Her vibrant personality, her ready smile, and her warmth endear her to people who know her. These qualities also enabled her to successfully meet the challenges she has faced in life.
Her sharp mind discovered early in elementary school, enabled her to graduate from Bloomfield High School at the tender age of 16 and was accepted at Northwestern University where she had wanted to become an elementary school teacher. Because there was not enough money available for four years of college, Barbara attended The Katharine Gibbs School, Montclair, where she excelled in their two-year Executive Secretarial course and graduated at the top of her class with a Merit Certificate.
These skills would prove to be of great value to her in her future careers.
After getting an executive secretarial position in the Clinical Research Department at Schering-Plough, Barbara married Tom Hogan, "the guy down the street," whom she had known since she was 12 years old--a decision she would soon regret. Her ensuing life had enough twists and turns for her to write a book. Her divorce was so entangled, it made the law books and is still used as a precedent. Barbara's resilience and resourcefulness got her through.
Barbara moved on to a position at Bell Communications Research working on a project to initiate 800 numbers. About that time, friends introduced her to her future husband, Bob Devlin. They both got their real estate licenses, not knowing how handy that would be in the coming years. Another bonus was Bob's two children.
Barbara and Bob went into real estate in 1987 while she was still working at Bell - they used to call her the 24-hour woman. She worked the corporate job during the day and real estate at night and weekends. Utilizing her knowledge of the programming language, UNIX, she wrote one of the first real estate "local niche" websites called http://www.bobdevlin.com featuring Cranford and was featured in the 1996 July/August issue of SELLING magazine.
In the mid-90's Bob developed lung cancer. Barbara helped him with not only his regular medicines but also with alternative medicines that allowed him a five-year remission. Unfortunately, the cancer returned in 2001, and Bob passed away in 2002. She was now on her own again, joined by her dear, recently divorced son and grand son, one of her 11 grandchildren.
Barbara, like so many retirees, thought that in retirement she would get a little job, and then go off into the sunset filled with happiness, dancing all the way. Reality, however, painted a different picture. She had kids to support, a home to pay for, bills that come with life; and she had to do it alone.
When asked what she likes about real estate, she replied, "The challenge of difficult deals." She has a strong desire to help prospective buyers as well as sellers. She wants to help her clients to find what they want and to be happy with what they choose.
She believes that, in general, the senior population is more responsible than most people may be aware. "We are more depended upon than dependent," she said. In addition to a greater sense of responsibility in her generation, she feels there is also a greater degree of accountability.
Barbara's caring and warmth are evident in the volunteer work she does at the Contact We Care hotline, open 24/7, that helps troubled people and potential suicide victims. She listens; she cares; she makes a difference.
Her buoyant, up-beat nature is revealed by her membership with the "Red Hats," an organization of women who greet middle age with humor, amusement, and energy. They enjoy having fun while wearing red hats and purple outfits. The women of the Red Hat Society have a fantastic time growing old together by adding comedy and friendship to their life experiences. That's Barbara! She makes people feel good.
Barbara is a survivor as seen through her resilience during the trying times in her life. She believes her divorce motivated her to develop skills she wouldn't have had otherwise, a belief indicative of her approach to life--positive, upbeat, self-assured. She is the perfect example of someone who, when presented with a sow's ear will find a way to make it into a silk purse. With that kind of "can do" attitude, she is someone who has earned the admiration and respect of her friends and peers.
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