Herbert J. Davis

1926 - 2022
Herbert J. Davis Jr. (Herb/"Sparky"), of Chatham Township, NJ, was born on April 7, 1926 and died on April 22, 2022. He was 96 years old.

He grew up in Kew Gardens, NY and started college at Lafayette where he was a catcher on their baseball team. He joined the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps with the intent to serve his country in World War II and was accepted into the Navy's Officers Training V-12 program. In 1944, despite his officer qualifications, due to his color blindness, he enlisted without a commission in the Marine Corps. He was assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division (Lima 3/1). He fought bravely in the Battle of Okinawa as a rifleman, runner and flamethrower. With the Japanese deeply entrenched, "Sparky" attacked and eliminated reinforced enemy positions with his flamethrower, while earning himself a lifelong nickname. After Okinawa, he participated in the Chinese occupation at Tientsin, disarming and processing the Japanese after their surrender. His Lima 3/1 was awarded a Naval Presidential Unit Citation for their meritorious actions. He ended active service as a Private First Class with an honorable discharge.

He met the love of his life Elise Nesselhauf while in high school and married her following his graduation from Hofstra College. Together they raised their family of four children-Conn, Meredith, Glenn and Martha-- which he viewed as his most important accomplishment. In this regard, he wrote "It is a joy for parents to see their children tackle life, meet it head on, and take away the joy that is there for the taking. We have felt for a long time, that because of this family, we could walk with Kings."

Upon leaving Hofstra, he started his successful business career at Avery-Dennison where he received numerous sales awards. He spent his entire adult life in Chatham Township where he served as a member of the volunteer fire department and as president of the Chatham school board. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed tennis, hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and golfing which included hitting a hole-in-one at two separate golf courses during his playing days. He was also a sports enthusiast, particularly devoted to the game of soccer, watching his two sons play in high school, gain college soccer scholarships and be successfully recruited to play professionally.

His father, Herbert J. Davis Sr. and mother, Helen Meise Davis predeceased him as did his Aunts Edie Davis, Jean Davis, Ethel Davis and Uncle Albert Davis who all helped to raise him. He is survived by his wife Elise Davis; children Conn Davis Sr. and his wife Debi Davis, Meredith Grimm Sobol and her husband Robert E. Sobol, Glenn Davis, Martha Davis Mangold and her husband Russell Mangold; grandchildren Rachel Davis, Conn Davis Jr., Hannah Jeter and her husband Derek Jeter, Paul Grimm, Victoria Grimm, Kyle Mangold, Leah Mangold; and great grandchildren Christian Davis, Bella Jeter, Story Jeter and River Jeter; who will universally remember him for his caring nature, ardent temperament, and genuine spirit.