Obituary of William J. Davison III
William John Davison III, long-time resident of Brookfield, Connecticut, died at home on February 12th. He was 94.
Born on April 4, 1928 in Taunton, Massachusetts, John was the son of William J. Davison Jr and Natalie (Briggs) Davison. John graduated from Taunton High School in 1945, where he was a Cadet Major, band member, and officer of several clubs. He enjoyed many childhood summers at Camp Wonalancet in Eaton Center, New Hampshire, and attended biannual camp reunions well into the 2000s. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from Amherst College in 1949 and worked as a manager in the aviation and defense industry.
John was married to MiIlicent (Kellogg) Davison, who predeceased him in 1992 after more than 20 years of marriage. He loved cooking, reading, gardening, and opera. He also enjoyed cheering on the Red Sox, Chiefs and Patriots and relaxing with his beloved cats and dogs. He was well-known by friends and family for his quick wit and knack for telling jokes.
As an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous for more than 50 years, John rarely missed a meeting and was an esteemed senior member. When he spoke, fellow members listened, since there was often a message borne of long experience.
One of John’s greatest pleasures was spending time with his twin granddaughters, Kelsey and Mackenzie Davison, who remember him as “the best grandpa.” They’ll miss calling him to share their experiences – from new hiking trails to cooking recipes. He helped them cultivate an appreciation for opera, tea, and the French language. But above all, they’ll miss his humor, love, and the comfort of hearing his voice.
In addition to his granddaughters, John leaves his two sons, John Jeffrey Davison and Joel Seaver Davison, and their mother from John’s first marriage, Suzanne K. Thorne (Susan Davis), all of California. He will also be missed by his niece and nephew, Jill and David Potter of Brookfield – who lived nearby, provided care and companionship, and enjoyed many holidays and other occasions with John. His other nieces and nephews and their families in Connecticut (Peter Potter), Ohio (John Potter), Florida (Liz Donovan), and Maryland (Miranda and Suzanna Sanborn), and his cousin Bob Dickerman in Massachusetts will also carry fond memories of John. He was predeceased by his sisters Elizabeth Potter and Marilyn Sanborn.
John’s family wishes to thank Jeanine and Mitch for all of the support and care they provided him. The family will receive friends at 1:30 PM on Saturday, March 18th followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM at the Brookfield Funeral Home, 786 Federal Rd. Brookfield, CT. Memorials may be made to Macular Degeneration Research
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