Christian F. Davis

1938 - 2022

Christian F. Davis, of Coventry, died on April 17, 2022. He is survived by his wife and love of his life Margo (McCloskey) Davis, his children Christian F. Davis, Jr. (Denise) of Colchester, Emily D. Knowles (Scott) of North Stonington, Robert C. M. Davis (Alyssa) of Lynchburg, VA. and son in law Richard Schneider of Wilmington, DE. He was predeceased by his daughter, Victoria D. Schneider. Christian and Margo were also blessed with 12 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren all of whom he loved very much. Christian was born to George A. Davis and Alice B. Davis in Wilmington, Delaware on July 13, 1938. He, Margo and their children moved to Coventry, CT in 1977 after living three years in Winchester, MA while he was teaching at Tufts University. Christian received his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and in 1970 he received his PhD in Applied Science from the same school. Dr. Davis had a varied career beginning with his employment by the United States Geological Survey while still in college. After graduation, he spent two more years with the USGS producing engineering soils maps of the entire Atlantic coastal plain in Delaware. Following brief stints with Woodlawn Trustees and Vandemark and Lynch, he returned to the U of D to pursue his Ph.D. while beginning his teaching career as an instructor in Civil Engineering. He completed his doctoral dissertation under the supervision of the world-renowned scientist and engineer Dr. Jerzy Nowinski. Together, they were the first to apply Biot's mathematical theory of proelasticity to bone, beginning the program of biomedical engineering at Delaware. After receiving his Ph.D., Dr. Davis joined the Delaware Department of Transportation, quickly rising to be appointed the first Chief of Planning, Research and Evaluation in the Peterson administration. Following his time at DelDot, he joined Karins and Associates in 1973 for a brief period before becoming Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Tufts. He became Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Connecticut in 1977 and was promoted to Professor in 1983. During most of his time at UConn, he was also the Director of the Connecticut Transportation Institute. After retiring in 2005, he taught for several years in the fledgling Biomedical Engineering program. He was also very active with the Memoir Club with the Center for Learning in Retirement of the University of Connecticut. The Davis family will greet relatives and friends on Friday, April 29, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home, 121 Main St. Westerly, RI. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 30, at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 7 Elm St, Westerly RI. Burial will follow in River Bend Cemetery.