Three-time Olympian Art Devlin dies; memorial service April 27

Three-time Olympian Art Devlin dies; memorial service April 27{mosimage}USSA – Former ski jumper Art Devlin, a three-time Olympian and longtime “voice” of ski jumping on television, died during the night of cancer, his family said Friday. He was 81.

Devlin, the 1946 U.S. jumping champion after serving as a bombardier in the U.S. Army Air Corps (the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force) during World War II, was a member of the 1948, ’52 and ’56 Olympic Teams. He also competed in the 1950 and ’54 World Championships and was elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in 1963. He was a tireless booster for Lake Placid and was a vice president of the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic Organizing Committee.

Devlin, who owned and operated Art Devlin’s Olympic Motor Inn in Lake Placid for many years, also was a jumping analyst on network Olympic coverage and special telecasts for more than two decades on CBS and ABC.

“Art was a terrific supporter of jumping. He always had great banter and plenty of stories to tell,” said Greg Windsperger, a 1976 Olympic jumper and U.S. coach for eight seasons, 1981-88. “He helped a lot of people learn about ski jumping.”

He is survived by his widow and three children. A memorial service is scheduled for April 27 at 11 a.m. at St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid. Burial will be private.