Denise DeVault Trevenen

*** Services will be held at the Washington Montessori School at 240 Litchfield Turnpike, New Preston, CT 06777 on June 29 from 5:30- 7:30****

Trevenen, Denise D.

Denise DeVault Trevenen, 58, of Washington, CT, passed away peacefully on May, 3, 2021, at the Regional Hospice Center in Danbury, CT after a long and courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by John, her beloved husband of 29 years, her two loving children, Andrew, 25, and Sydney, 21, and her parents, Jon and Martha DeVault of Pinehurst, NC.

Denise was born in Cumberland, MD, October 22, 1962. She lived in multiple states as a child, and in 1981, graduated from Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, UT. She graduated from Baylor University in 1985 with a Bachelors of Arts in social work.

She went on to work for Four Seasons hotels in the human resources department, which took her to Las Colinas, TX, Maui, HI, Santa Barbara, CA, and Houston, TX, where, in 1990, she met her eventual husband, John. In 1992, after they married, the two moved to Washington, CT, where they would plant their roots and raise their children. In Washington, Denise made countless friends who loved her generosity and vibrant spirit, and became a beloved member of the community.

Denise returned to school, attending Quinnipiac University School of Law where she graduated Cum Laude with a JD in 1996. She went on to open Trevenen & Coploff with her loyal partner Jeff Coploff, practicing real estate law in Washington for over 20 years. Denise was an avid golfer, enjoyed hikes at Steep Rock, and adored her wide circle of devoted friends. She had a passion for bringing people together, and she loved to gather in her home for a dance party, to play Rummikub, to watch the sunset, or to celebrate the holidays. Perhaps more than anything, Denise loved adventure. After she was diagnosed with stage IV cancer in 2018, she voyaged with friends and family to London, Anguilla, Sedona, Morocco, Montana, Italy, Nova Scotia, Peru, South Africa, and Mexico. Also, shortly after her diagnosis, she welcomed a dog named Pip, who became an adored part of the family.

A resident of Washington for nearly thirty years, Denise’s greatest passion was her town, to which she gave her time generously and made many lasting contributions. She spent many years on the boards of Washington Montessori School, Steep Rock Preserve, and New Milford Hospital. During the last seven years, her main focus was the revitalization of an abandoned gas station in the center of Washington Depot. Along with a few others, Denise raised the funds to transform it into the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens—which is now the heart of the community she loved and a central gathering spot for art exhibits, farmers markets, and outdoor movies.

In addition to her husband, children and parents, Denise is survived by her brother, Corky DeVault of Portland, OR, her aunt, Diane Grossman of Arlington, TX and her cousin, Amy Bell of Arlington, TX. A celebration of her life will take place in Washington on June 29th, with details to follow.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Washington Montessori School, where a Denise Trevenen Scholarship will be created, or the Judy Black Memorial Park and Gardens (instructions below).

Judy Black: Online donations or check payable to “Washington Park Foundation” sent to PO Box 142, Washington Depot, CT 06794

Washington Montessori School: Online donations or check payable to “Washington Montessori School” sent to 240 Litchfield Turnpike, New Preston, CT 06777

(please note in donation that it is in memory of Denise Trevenen).

To leave an online condolence please visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com.

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