Edward R. Davis

LAKEVILLE — Edward R. Davis of Hampton, N.H., died on Dec. 27, 2020, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, N.H., following complications from a major stroke. Ted was 77 years young, born in Haverhill, Mass., to the late Grace E. (Dusseault) and Emery E. Davis.

Ted was a graduate of Winnacunnet High School, ’61, Bates College, ’65 and Middlebury College, ’67, after which he taught Environmental Studies/Limnology and Biology and coached track and field, football and the wrestling program he founded at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville. The impact on his students, athletes and the health and stability of Lake Wononscopomuc were profound, and his influence extended to the local community as well. For 26 years Ted instructed Emergency Medical Technician and Life Saving courses, and was deeply dedicated with service to the Salisbury Volunteer Ambulance Squad. 

After retiring from Hotchkiss in 1998, Mr. Davis returned to Hampton with his wife, Betsey Davis. Turns out rest didn’t suit Ted well, and just six months into retirement, he had committed to coaching three seasons of athletics at the Philips Exeter Academy. Ted’s civic duties continued in New Hampshire when he joined the Hampton Area Lions Club and later earned the Club’s highest national award, The Melvin Jones Fellow Award. 

Ted served as an active member of the Winnacunnet High School Alumni Association and was dutifully present at the alumni tent for every home football game. He was also frequently complimented on how beautiful he kept a few of North Hamptons Cemetery’s as the “Lawn Father.”

Edward R. Davis, aka: ERD, T, Ted, Dad, Senor Daddo, Papster, Grampy, Grampster, Coach, Mr. Davis, lived a full life. He had an endless library of passionate stories about being a 10-year veteran lifeguard on Hampton Beach, fishing escapades with his comrades on the Northeast Coast, cooking for the Cajun Queen at major raceways across the USA, EMT calls for SVAS, holiday weekend and shopping with his favorite people, wins and losses from his college days through countless championships on the fields and mats of Hotchkiss and Philips Exeter. 

Ted found great joy in hosting gatherings, his family, boat trips and more. He always offered a drink with plenty of food to follow, and could always be counted on to have a set schedule and a plan. 

Ted was a master at withholding and a man that bestowed a good heart with decent intentions. He gave the biggest “Bear Hugs” and his love as fully as he was capable.

“My dad’s life has ended too early. The kind of early that didn’t allow him to see his grandchildren graduate from high school or to meet his newest great-grandson, Remington… the kind of early that didn’t allow for visits because of COVID. There is a sense of great loss, especially for my sister not being able to spend time with him during these last 10 months and to have him die alone. It is a true blessing that my father’s heart stopped. The stroke eliminated his speech center. Knowing my father, this post-stroke condition would have been prison like for him and I believe he knew this.” —Aimee D. Davis

Ted shared 39 years of marriage with his wife Betsey A. (Squire) Davis.

Ted is survived by Betsey, his two daughters, Katharine A. Gates (50) and her husband, Shad, and Aimee D. Davis (47) and her partner, Israel Fitch; five grandchildren and their beloveds, Michael W. Hogan, Kevin D. Chassi, Sarah Lamie, Riley J. Davis-Gagnon, Bennett Gates, and Elise Gates; and two great-grandchildren, Lilian and Remington Hogan. Also survived by Ted are Betsey’s children, Chris Lamie and his wife, Jen, Sue Lamie and her husband, Steve; he was preceded in death by Daniel P. Lamie. Immediate surviving family are brother Bob Davis, his wife, Nancy, and his two nephews, Jeffrey and Andrew Davis.

Come spring (and with hopefully with less COVID impact), a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Hampton; and a Celebration of Life will be held in Lakeville. Dates are TBA. The family requests remembrances (photos, written memories or tributes) of Ted to be sent to Aimee at connectandbalance@gmail.com, so they may be shared at the spring celebrations.

Donations may be sent to the Salisbury Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 582, Salisbury, CT 06068; or to the Hampton Area Lions Club, P.O. Box 1088 Hampton, NH 03842 to honor Mr. Edward R. Davis.

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