Richard Davies
If a portion of Dick Davies’ kind spirit and good will remains in the world after his passing on August 6th 2020, it will be a better place. Born July 14, 1927 to Henry Richard Davies and Ruth Stillman Davies in Nyack, New York, Dick spent his early years avoiding team sports, pulling apart and reassembling radios, and being spoiled by his older sisters, Janet and Dorothy. His passion for learning exactly how things work carried him through an engineering degree and to California to establish the Western Division Lab for Philco. He spent over 45 years with Ford Aerospace/Loral and then Stanford Telecommunications on projects ranging from tracking grizzly bears in Yellowstone to tracking satellites in space. His proudest accomplishment was raising his two children, Ruth and John, with his loving wife, Marian (Loehlin). In 2017, Dick swapped his SF Giants cap for a STL Cardinals jersey and relocated to Missouri to be closer to his grand-childen, Richard Benjamin Sulser and Ellen Davies Sulser. Throughout the ups and downs of life, Dick remained a staunch Protestant, an empathic listener, and a charismatic recorder player. His love of baroque music, baseball, and a good dessert will be carried on by those who honor him. Memorial ceremonies are delayed until 2021. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local public broadcasting station.
Sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
What a lovely tribute. He looks happy in every photo, and has beautiful, kind eyes.
Sentimos mucho su partida lo recordamos con mucho cariño
Dick was a lovely man. He was much loved in the recorder community and is missed. Deep condolences to all those who loved him.
Dick and Marion were a gracious, generous, hospitality team. They were always a supportive and involved part of our life at Covenant Church. I am grateful to know that Dick was with Ruth and John at the end of his life. My thoughts are with you in this time. of grief.
Peace to your family — love, Donna Mason
He was a good man and a fine uncle. He and Aunt Marian will be very much missed. Love to you all.
I worked with Dick at Philco-Ford in the sixties and seventies. It was always a pleasure to encounter Dick in meetings because he provided a measure of pleasantness and rationality to help solve whatever the issue under discussion was. This was not always the case with others, to be kind. Dick was our go-to guy for any communication systems issues, a true expert whose opinion one could rely upon.
He was always calm and gentle, a real unique personality in our business. I always enjoyed any time I could work with Dick.
I had the pleasure, and indeed if was a pleasure, to work with Dick from the time I joined Philco in 1963 until he retired. A brilliant engineer, yet modest. When he and Marion moved from their house to a retirement community, I inherited his box of early Philco memorabilia, still in my garage.
Like Hugh and Herb, I worked with DIck and we remained in loose contact after first Dick, and then I retired. He was truly unique with his blend of knowledge and humility/kindness. I inherited the organization, Communications Sciences, that he left behind. It grew beyond my wildest imagination, but that was only possible because of the foundation that he laid. I often thought of him when confronted with a new situation – either technical or organizational. He will be missed.
I worked with Dick in the early 60s at Ford Aerospace and then stayed home for 9 years raising sons. I went back to work in 1974 at Stanford Telecom and later Dick came there too. He was one of the most decent, kind gentlemen I have ever worked with. Never lost his temper and would help any way possible. I absolutely loved working with him. My condolences to his family.
I am so happy he and Marian were near us while we were in Berkeley. We miss them both.
I (former neighbor) am a little late chiming in but as I watched the video, the incident that came to mind was (pre-marriage?) when, as a side assignment, Dick went to Yellowstone to put GPS on bears. He replaced his ratty convertible top for the trip, only to have a bear walk over his car and entitle him to a (free!) new convertible top.
For decades, til Dick moved away, our families (kids about the same ages) celebrated New Year’s eve together, early in the evening so that the adults could go to other parties. Dick “kept our resolutions” (literally only).
A wonderful family. Many happy memories on both sides, both generations.