Richard G. Davis

1925 - 2016

Richard G. Davis
Oct. 16, 1925 - Sept. 12, 2016
Resident of San Jose
Richard ("Rick") Gordon Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 16, 1925 to Sydney Baitchman Davis and Sol Davis. During his childhood, the family moved down the Gulf Coast, spent some time in Biloxi, MI, and settled in New Orleans.
Rick began college at Tulane University, but when WWII began after his freshman year, he volunteered for the Navy and served in the Pacific. He was trained as a radio technician and radar specialist, which encouraged him to pursue his interest in math and engineering after the war. However, he maintained his strong interest in literature and creative writing, leading him to graduate from Tulane with an unlikely double major in English Literature and Physics. Upon graduation, he decided on an engineering career, completing a Masters degree in Physics and Engineering, also at Tulane.
While at Tulane, a friend introduced him to Doris Seelig, a native New Orleanian and student at Newcomb College. They married on January 3rd, 1950 and moved to Chicago where Rick took his first job with a firm that was one of the first to explore the manufacture of MRI for medical testing. In 1951, their son Richard Seelig Davis was born in Chicago. When Rick accepted a position with the National Bureau of Standards, the family first moved to Washington D.C., and later to Southern California. In 1954, their daughter, Deborah was born in Southern California, where they lived until 1955. There he embarked on a lifelong commitment to civic engagement as a volunteer with the Community Concerts Organization. When he accepted a position in Tucson, Arizona, the family grew to enjoy the desert. In 1959, he accepted a position with Lockheed and the family settled in Saratoga, California. In 1967, he started investing in local real estate in a small partnership with Lockheed colleagues. These partners have remained close friends as well as business partners to this day. He continued to work in missiles and space engineering as senior manager with Lockheed until an unexpected heart attack encouraged him to take an early retirement in 1973.
The family fell in love with the San Jose area and community where Rick was very active in both his religious and secular communities. He and Doris lived in Los Gatos from 1973 until 1994, at which time they moved to San Jose and built their home at Silver Creek Country Club, where he also served on the first advisory board.
Rick was always a leader, ending up as President of many of the organizations in which he participated, among them Temple Emanuel, San Jose West Rotary Club, and Rinconada Hills Association in Los Gatos. Rick spent time volunteering with The Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation, AIPAC, and Hillel. He also worked extensively with many local service organizations including Rotary International, the San Jose Symphony, the San Jose Ethics Council, and Faces of Silicon Valley. His warm and caring nature endeared him to all who knew him. His sincere concern for others led him to continually work to serve in the community.
Rick's love of literature never faded. He could just as easily recite from memory Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn" as argue over tennis statistics. In addition to being an excellent tennis player and yogi, he also loved hiking and nature. He took his children and grandchildren to the redwoods frequently, especially Big Basin, Yosemite, and Lassen.
Rick passed away peacefully on September 12th, leaving behind his beloved wife of 66 years, Doris, for whom his love was so tender that he often referred to her as "my bride." He is also survived by his recently discovered brother Robert, two children: Rick and Deborah, and four grandchildren: Alec, Steven, Spencer and wife Ann-Marie, and Lindsey and partner Vanessa. His greatest concern was always his family, including his extended relatives. He helped organize large family reunions every other year. He and his wife hosted one in San Jose in 2001. His family remembers his gentle wisdom, overflowing kindness, and unwavering dignity.
His death is a loss for his many friends and family members who recall his modesty, love of life, commitments to just causes, and penchant for humor from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas to the cute things his children said. He lived as a model of many lovable and desirable qualities: generosity, intelligence, business sense, gentleness, and moderation.
A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, September 29th, at 10:30am at Temple Emanuel, 1010 University Ave., San Jose, CA 95126. Lunch reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the West San Jose Campbell Rotary Foundation (P.O. Box 111116, Campbell, CA, 95011-1116) or Temple Emanuel (1010 University Ave., San Jose, CA 95126).


View the online memorial for Richard G. Davis