Norman S. Davis

Norman S. Davis, born September 21, 1913 in Hartford, Connecticut, passed away on September 18, 2002. He was preceded in death by his father, Moshe Davis, his mother, Minnie Davis, and his sister, Charlotte Dal. A practicing attorney for over 65 years, he was the founder of the law firm that today is known as Davis, Cedillo & Mendoza, Inc. His life was driven by his love of family, knowledge, the law and the state of Israel. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Texas and the University of Texas School of Law, he served as a President of the San Antonio Jewish Federation, Vice- Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal Cabinet Southwest Region, a member of the National Executive Committee of the National Jewish Committee Relations Advisory Council, a member of the Israel Commission of the Energy Task Force, a member of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a City Councilman of Olmos Park, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Laredo National Bank. Mr. Davis visited Israel on 27 occasions, and was honored in 1978 for his long service to Israel as the recipient of the State of Israel Bonds' 30th Anniversary Award. Norman and his wife, Anita, received a special award in 1998 from the Mayor of Jerusalem for "Many years of devotion and commitment to Israel". In 1994, they established an endowment to assist underprivileged students at the University of Texas School of Law. He is survived by his wife, Anita Polunsky Davis; by his children, Louise and Michael Beldon of San Antonio, Susan Kaminsky of Dallas, Beverly and Ira Levy of Dallas and Russell and Terry Davis of San Antonio; by his grandchildren, Bradford and Susan Beldon, Allison and Daniel Kustoff, Jennifer and James Rosenblatt, Jonathan and Maria Beldon, Robin Kaminsky, Karen Kaminsky and her fiancé Richard Siefert, Larry Levy, Mark and Tara Levy, Leslie and Michael Met and Greg and Kathryn Davis; by his 14 great grandchildren; by his sister and brother-in-law, Ada and Mildred Jacobs; and his brother and sister-in-law, Herbert and Phyllis Davis, all of San Antonio; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Special thanks to his caring physicians, Michael Lichtenstein and Robert Schoumaker, and all of the other compassionate doctors and caregivers who took such excellent care of him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Norman and Anita Davis Community Relations Endowment Fund of the San Antonio Jewish Federation or to the Israel Emergency Fund, both in care of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, at 12500 Northwest Military Highway, Suite 200, San Antonio, Texas 78231