Don Devitte: Founder’s Grandson Shares a Name and a Connection

When Don Devitte started SAV-ON insurance back in 1964, little did he know that 60 years later another Don Devitte would be helping out at his business. Don Devitte the younger just happens to be his grandson and the son of co-owner Rick Devitte.

Donny, as he is known to his family, has followed in his family’s footsteps, and been involved in SAV-ON most of his life. He joins his father Rick, mother Kelli, and two sisters (Nichole and Ava) who have also worked (and in some cases continue to work) in the family business.

“I didn’t get to know my grandfather very well because I was pretty young, but I like to be around the business that he started,” he says. “I feel a connection to him when I’m there.”

Born in Des Moines

Born a short bike ride away from the Des Moines office, Don remembers biking there as a kid to help pull weeds and do other small tasks around the office. As he grew up the tasks became more challenging, such as landscaping work at the office and shredding files.

He remembers his father teaching him to ride a dirt bike near the Des Moines office location when he was seven or eight years old. He still loves dirt biking to this day.

“I did all sorts of things like wash windows, pull weeds, and removed icicles hanging from the building in the winter,” he recalls. “As I got older, I would set up the office computers and help when we moved to different offices. Whatever was needed at the time.”

While he’s not full-time or even part-time, Don comes in periodically when his father asks him to shred old files and do various maintenance tasks when they are needed.

Don has an Associate of Arts degree from Green River Community College and has also earned a welding certificate. He works as a handyman and does welding when he isn’t helping out at the SAV-ON offices.

Hobbies Keep Him Busy

His hobbies include dirt biking, target shooting, and boxing. Currently, he likes boxing best, and was being trained by a professional trainer for a while, but is now training himself with a goal of getting into competitions.

“I used to be a wrestler, but now I’m more into boxing,” he explains. “The things I like to do for fun are either ride my dirt bike or work on my boxing skills.”

While he’ll always help out at SAV-ON when needed because “That’s my family”, when asked where he plans to be in five years, he answers “I want to cultivate a business in landscaping or boxing”.

Just like his namesake, this Don has big plans for the future. Only this time it probably won’t be in the insurance business.

But, in the meantime, he’s happy to help out the family business with whatever tasks they need him to do. His grandfather would be pleased with his efforts to help 60 years later!