Devin Michael Housman of Rock Hill is remembered by family and friends for his kindness and artistic spirit. He loved fashion design, drawing, animation and the performing arts. His favorite movie was Disney’s “The Lion King,” which he owned on video and saw performed on Broadway multiple times.

Devin was diagnosed with autism in 2001 just before his fourth birthday, but that didn’t stop him from excelling at Sullivan ARC where he earned the nickname of “the Activity Director.” He enjoyed helping people and wanted to learn enough to work in a movie theater.

In June of 2020, Devin became ill with a rare autoimmune disease and had to be hospitalized. COVID restrictions at the time meant his family couldn’t be by his side and Devin passed away unexpectedly that year.

Transforming their grief into action, his family founded the Devin Michael Housman Memorial Scholarship Fund as a way for his kind and creative spirit to live on.

The scholarship is awarded each year to one graduating student from a high school in Orange County and one graduating student from a high school in Sullivan County. Both students will have special education classifications and plans to pursue careers in the arts.

Hosted by El Sombrero restaurant in Rock Hill on Saturday, this year’s Devin Michael Housman Scholarship Fundraiser raised $7,400.

“It feels amazing and we’re blessed that we can pass on our son’s love for the Arts and his legacy to students in Sullivan and Orange who have special needs and who normally can’t get the traditional scholarships,” says Devin’s mother, Yvonne Housman.

“We hope that students with special needs never give up on their dreams,” Yvonne said. “They might be different but they have so much to offer us and we can learn a lot from them by being kind to one another.”

Yvonne also advocates for state legislation known as Devin’s Law, which provides for regulations to require general hospitals to allow personal caregiving visitors for patients.

Contributions to Devin’s scholarship fund can be made by check: CFOS Devin M. Housman Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 201, Rock Hill, NY 12775.

Contributions can be made online as well: https://cfosny.org/our-funds/scholarships/devin-michael-housman-memorial-scholarship-fund.