Obituaries

Beloved Philanthropist Kathryn Davis Dies

Kathryn Wasserman Davis will be long be remembered as a great benefactor to our community, an avid kayaker, a "globe-trotting philanthropist," a champion for peace.

Bloomberg.com was among the national outlets first announcing the news that Kathryn Wasserman Davis died yesterday at the age of 106, though it seemed she would live forever.

Davis, who long called Tarrytown home, died in Hobe Sound, Florida for causes her relatives didn't specify.

Her contributions span the globe – but we here in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow have been especially lucky beneficiaries of her generosity.

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At the age of 105, Davis last ventured by kayak out on the Hudson River with Scenic Hudson's Ned Sullivan. In Sleepy Hollow, we can thank her for the renovated bathhouse that now bears her name. She was essential in the new RiverWalk stretch at Pierson Park, attending its ribbon cutting only a few years ago.

Back in 1947, as Bloomberg.news reported, she dipped into her family fortune (her father Joseph Wasserman was the chairman of the Artloom Corp. of Philadelphia, which made rugs) to set her husband Shelby Cullom Davis on the path to becoming “one of America’s most successful investors.”

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

She's used this wealth to its fullest, most positive, potential ever since.

Wrote Bloomberg.news:

On her 100th birthday in 2007, Davis pledged $1 million to carry out the ideas of 100 college students on how to promote peace. She provided additional $1 million grants in 2008, 2009 and 2010 for what became known as the Davis Projects for Peace.”

Last May, the American Museum of Natural History in New York dedicated the Kathryn W. Davis Science Teaching Classroom in recognition of her donations to its master’s degree program for science teachers. She told the Wall Street Journal that her philanthropy was guided by the notion that it’s more fun “to live in a world that you are helping to get better.”

As soon as the news of her death hit our community, people were quick to praise her and mourn the loss on Facebook's 10591 group:

"What a great lady, humanitarian, human being," wrote Sleepy Hollow Animal Hospital's Dr. Brian Green. "When I first met her with her dog Katy at the ripe age of 95, she was all decked out in her tennis whites, and told me that her pro knew that she was to win, that was the deal! I'm still smiling! RIP Mrs. Davis!"

"She can fly with the Angels now," wrote Elena Swan.

"God bless her beautiful, generous soul," added Marlaina Bertolacci.

Scenic Hudson has a great tribute to her on their website here.

They write: 

Scenic Hudson offers our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Davis’s family, including her daughter Diana Davis Spencer, son Shelby M.C. Davis, grandson Chris Davis and other grandchildren. Inspired by her adventurous spirit and zest for life, we look forward to working with the family to protect more lands along the Hudson and create new parks, adding to Kathryn Wasserman Davis’s legacy of enriching the lives of all who live in and visit this valley she loved so much.

Please add your memories and kind thoughts on the passing of Kathryn W. Davis in the comments below. 

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