Dorothy Davison

Dorothy Davison, 94. died peacefully at home at Eagle's Trace in Houston on Saturday, October 12, 2019. She leaves her son, Scott and his fiancé Laurie of Houston, TX; her daughter-in-law, Helen of Teddington, England, her grandchildren, Rachel (Humphries) Elizabeth (Williams), Jesse, and Eric; her great-grandchildren Benjamin, Genevieve and Henry; nieces and nephews, Nadine, Norelle, Robin, Susan, Nechama, and Jay; and many close friends. Her beloved husband of 55 years, Sol, died in 2003 and her wonderful son Mark in 2014. Dorothy had an amazing life. She was born in Boston, MA on June 22, 1925 with her parents Israel and Tillie Goldstein, who had emigrated from Eastern Europe through Ellis Island. Dorothy was 18 years old when the family moved to California in 1943 where she worked as a clerk-typist and volunteered for the USO. Dorothy met Sol in 1943 and it was love at first sight. They married on February 3, 1945 and she followed his postings in the Army Air Force for the duration of WWII. After the war Dorothy and Sol moved to Claremont, California in 1946 where Sol returned to Pomona College and finished his Bachelor of Science (while Dorothy went to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga and started on a twenty-one-year journey to get her bachelor's degree!) In 1947, Dorothy and Sol moved to South Bend, Indiana, where Sol worked on his PhD. During this time, Dorothy and Sol's two sons, Scott and Mark were born, in 1950 and 1951. Dorothy attended Indiana University extension while Sol worked on his PhD. Sol received a post-doctoral fellowship at MIT and the whole family moved to Boston. While raising the two young boys she took classes at Harvard University. In 1956, Sol got a job with Shell Oil Company in Emeryville, CA. Dorothy was ecstatic (she never liked cold weather), and they moved to Richmond, CA. Life in California was wonderful. Dorothy was closer to her large family, who all lived in Southern California, and she continued to pursue her studies at Contra Costa College in Richmond, University of California, Berkeley and finally San Francisco State College, where she received her B.A. in Urban Studies - Community Development in 1968. It was during this time in California that Dorothy started her formal political career. She had always been a "Roosevelt" Democrat and supported a variety of liberal and women's causes. She was appointed to the Mayor's Citizen Advisory Board in Richmond, Richmond Urban Renewal Agency, and Association of Bay Area Governments and Richmond, CA Model Cities, ultimately a recipient of a certificate of merit from Richmond, CA in 1969. Dorothy always loved to travel, and Sol and Dorothy went on numerous trips with the boys. In 1969, after the boys had graduated high school, Sol and Dorothy moved to Delft, Holland as part of the Exchange Scientist Program. The boys went to study in Israel, where Dorothy and Sol visited them in 1970. After Sol and Dorothy came back to California, Shell offered them the opportunity in 1972 to move to Houston, Texas, where Sol worked at Shell Oil Company's Westhollow Labs. Dorothy and Sol joined Congregation Beth Israel and Dorothy started working as the secretary to Rabbi Hyman Shachtel. She worked at Congregation Beth Israel until 1975 when she was offered the opportunity to work in city government. Dorothy was hired as the chief planner for Harris County Community Development. During her time from 1975 to 1986, Dorothy was promoted several times: In 1982 she became Assistant Director. In 1984, she became Director of Research and Development. In 1985 she was promoted to Executive Director of Harris County Housing Authority and Harris County Community Development Agency. She was a consultant to the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Resource Council and the Gulf Coast Economic Development District - Houston-Galveston Area Council, a national delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1981, Texas delegate to the Governor's council on Aging, 1981. Chairman for Housing for the Elderly Houston /Harris County Agency on Aging, 1981, certified housing manager and specialist in senior citizen housing. Dorothy received many awards during her professional life: Woman in Government certificate from University of Houston 1978, Harris County Texas, Professional Community Leadership of the Year, Harris County Extension Service, Texas A&M University, 1985, Resolution and Certificate of Merit, Harris County Commissioner's Court, Harris County, Texas Retirement Commendation. 1986. Feb. 3, 1986 was declared to be Dorothy Davison Appreciation Day as decreed by official resolution of the Harris County Commissioner's Court. :-) Dorothy retired in 1986 when Sol retired from Shell. In retirement, Dorothy and Sol did what they most loved doing. They built a beach house. They traveled to see family and friends. They took cruises all over the world and led a blessed life. Sol was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in the late 1990's, but Dorothy and Sol did not let it slow them down. They continued to travel and go to cultural and community events in Houston. The had season tickets to both the opera and the Alley theater. Granddaughter Rachel moved in in early 2002 to help with Sol's care and on February 6, 2003, Sol died. Dorothy's son Scott and grandson Jesse moved into her house on Pebble Rock drive in Houston shortly after Sol's death, so Dorothy was never alone and the house was full of laughter and energy. After both grandchildren left for college in 2004, Dorothy moved into a beautiful one-bedroom patio apartment at Eagle's Trace and lined the walls with pictures of family and the many awards and commendations she had received. She was on numerous committees there and took full advantage of the many activities offered by her new home. She loved Eagle's Trace and didn't slow down, walking one granddaughter down the aisle one day shy of her 90th birthday and flying to London for the other granddaughter at 91 and a ½! Dorothy Davison led a full life, loving and loved. In 2001, Dorothy wrote a letter to a grand-nephew where she said how she wanted to be remembered. How do I want you to remember me? "Remember me as somebody who treasured family and friends and tried desperately to keep us together over the years. Somebody who was grateful to have you all as part of my life". Who am I? "A daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother a grandmother, a friend and a woman who was blessed and appreciated others and in turn was herself appreciated". In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Temple Sinai, 13875 Brimhurst Drive Houston, TX 77077

Dorothy Davison

June 22, 1925 - October 12, 2019