Sally Davis Holbrook

SALLY DAVIS HOLBROOK
July 2, 1932 - September 27, 2025
Sally Davis Holbrook died Saturday, September the 27th in Newport Beach, California, surrounded by friends & family. She was 93 and succumbed to advanced stage T-cell lymphoma. Holbrook, a lifelong Pasadena resident, was raised in loving and comfortable circumstances, spending summers and weekends on Lido Isle in Newport. After nearly 70years on Vista Lane in Pasadena, she had recently relocated to Orange Count to be near her son and daughter-in-law. She was living independently in the months prior to her sudden decline.
Born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on July 2, 1932, Sally Davis was the beloved (twin) daughter of Elias Kaylor and Elizabeth Rogers Jackson Davis of Pasadena. She was raised in Pasadena where she attended Westridge School For Girls along with her sister, Nancy. Both debuted at the Valley Hunt Club Debutant Ball. Sally attended Pomona College and pursued pre-medical coursework, graduating in 1953, at the age of 21.
In 1956, at 24, she married Harvard graduate and Lockheed Aerospace executive William Sumner Holbrook III of Los Angeles. After honeymooning in Hawaii, they settled down in Pasadena in a house they built for themselves. She devoted herself to home, children, husband and charitable work in the community. Sally published two books on meal preparation and entertaining: Sun, Sand and Sausage Pie: And Beach House Memories (1992) and Party Pampered & Perfect: the Complete Party Book (1995) drawing on recipes and memories from her youth spent at the family beach house on Lido Isle, where her grandparents socialized with neighbors John and Pilar Wayne and Amadeo and Clorinda Gianinni. As a child, she was a great favorite of Newport neighbor and family friend, Leon Schlesinger, creator of Looney Tunes, who used to draw cartoons for her on cocktail napkins.
Sally gave birth to and raised two sons, William Sumner Holbrook IV (Billy) born in 1961 and Robert Davis Holbrook, (Bobby) born in 1967. Sally is survived by her son Bobby and his wife, Lina.
She was a gracious, energetic, affectionate and determined woman, a dedicated wife and mother, a devoted dependable friend and a generous, active participant in the life of her family, community, club and civic associations. She is greatly missed by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
A Graveside Service will be held at the San Gabriel Cemetery in San Gabriel, 11:00 A.M., October 15, followed by a reception at the Valley Hunt Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Pasadena Humane Society.