Robert L. Davison

Robert Langon Davison passed away after a lengthy illness on Tuesday August 17, 2010. Robert was born May 14, 1929, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. He was the son of the late Frederick Davison and Dorothy Poindexter. After graduating from Waynesburg High School, he served four years in the United States Air Force.

He enrolled in the Indiana Institute of Technology in Fort Wayne, IN. While attending IT he met his future wife Pauline Catherine Ford, an Indiana University graduate. He graduated from IT with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He was employed by Bell Aircraft, Sylvania Electronics, Polaroid Corp. and the Gillette Company. Robert also loved teaching and sharing his knowledge. For example, he enjoyed teaching evening courses at Erie Tech (Buffalo NY) and Wentworth Institute of Technology (Boston MA) and judging Science Fairs in the Boston Public School System.

His accomplishments were many as he was a true civil rights leader and vastly improved conditions for minorities in education, fair housing, and jobs in the suburbs. He held titles in many organizations in furtherance of his pursuit of equal rights including President, South Middlesex Branch of the NAACP, appointment to the New England Regional Board of Directors of the NAACP, President, the Human Relations Council and member, Board of Directors of the New England Legal Services Corporation. He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the South Middlesex Men’s Club.

Robert was always very active in the church. He was very proud to be a conceptual founder of the Greater Framingham Community Church in Massachusetts. Bob, his wife and two other Black couples saw a need for a place for the few families of color in the suburban area where they lived to come together to worship on Sundays and discover a unifying cultural focus. They held their first service in July of 1972. Robert sang in the choir and served as Deacon. Robert served as Deacon Emeritus through his last days.

Always involved in reaching out to, and helping others, he delighted in teaching and mentoring promising young future engineering students through Mass Pep. Inc. in Boston. He served as a loaned executive for the United Way and helped raise money for many charitable causes. It was because of his example, his daughter Patricia and son Robert consider it a priority to reach out to the community, the underserved and the underrepresented.

Without question, the most important thing to Robert was spending time with his family. Together, they embarked on many great family vacations here and abroad.. He was a talented musician and singer. When friends and family gathered at the house, it was always only a matter of time until he made his way to the piano and began to play and sing the blues.

An avid sportsman, who loved horses, he bought two pleasure riding horses for Pat and Bobby. The three of them often took trail rides together. He attended 4-H Club meetings with Pat and supported her in her horse show competitions. In later years, he very much enjoyed participating in Bobby’s hobby of owning, racing and training standardbred horses. He also loved to go on deep sea fishing trips with Bobby.

He is survived by his wife of 55, yrs Pauline, daughter Patricia Davison Lewis Esq., son Robert L Davison Jr. M.D., grandchildren Celeste Davison and Christopher and Jeffrey Lewis, Sisters Lillian Allen, Carolyn S. Patterson, Leora LaTorrijne, Jeanette Campbell and Brother Norman Davison and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding him in death were brothers Lawrence, George, Frank and sister Henrietta.

Robert will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by his family and friends.