Rebecca Davenport Chaitin

Rebecca Davenport Chaitin

Rebecca Davenport Chaitin of Charlottesville, Virginia, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 2012.

She was born to the late Charles Davenport and Frances "Dutch" Davenport on June 5, 1935. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded by her husband, Peter; and her sister, Dorrie. She is survived by her three children, Joseph, Joshua and Andrea, as well as her five rambunctious grandchildren, her nieces and nephew. Rebecca is also survived by her many loving friends, and was surrounded by those she loved as she passed away.

Rebecca "Becca" graduated from Hollins College, but spent time as one of the first female students at the University of Virginia, as she came home to help her mother after her father, a professor of philosophy at University of Virginia, passed away. She worked for the World Bank, then as a freelance writer and editor with her husband, first as they travelled Europe with a motor scooter, suitcase and typewriter, and later in New York City, and then in New Jersey, where she raised her children before moving back to Virginia after her husband's death. In Virginia, Becca reconnected with family and old friends and made many new friends. She was a devoted animal lover, hiker and traveler, and enjoyed visiting her children and grandchildren in Boston, Chicago and Seattle. She was committed to enjoying life and upon her cancer diagnosis worked voraciously through her "bucket list", travelling through the Intracoastal Waterway, and to Italy and Scotland. She was, first and foremost, loved by those who knew her in every stage of her life and in her passing. As a lover of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Becca's ashes will be scattered at the Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: The Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary, P.O. Box 3, Charlottesville, VA 22902; The Charlottesville/Albemarle SPCA, 3355 Berkmar Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22901; or Hospice of the Piedmont, 675 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 300, Charlottesville, VA 22911. Her memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2012, at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church in Charlottesville.


This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.