G. Bradford Davis' Obituary
G. Bradford Davis, known to family, friends and associates as Brad, passed away at age 88 on Monday, November 26, 2018, in Huntersville, N.C. He was the husband of Minerva Sarando Davis, to whom he was married for 63 years.
Brad and Minerva lived in the Town of Poughkeepsie for 50 years, before relocating to Huntersville, N.C., in 2014.
Brad was born on October 24, 1930, in Worcester, Mass., the son of the late Frank and Elsie Davis. He grew up in the Tatnuck section of the city, attending public schools. It was there that he gained a love of golf that grew into a life-long interest. As a caddie in demand at the prestigious Tatnuck Country Club, he could hone his golf strokes for free when not caddying. When not playing golf, he was making a joyful racket playing the drums.
He attended Clark University in Worcester, where he graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. It was at Clark that he met Minerva when they were in the cast of the play, “Androcles and the Lion.” They married in June 1955.
Upon graduation, Brad entered the banking industry. His first job was at Mechanics National Bank in Worcester, where he worked as a Commercial Loan Officer until 1962. He also served as a member of the Naval Reserve during that time.
In 1962, he accepted a position at Pittsfield National Bank as Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer, moving his growing family, which by now included two sons, from Northborough to Pittsfield, Mass. While in Pittsfield, the family welcomed the addition of a daughter.
In 1966, Brad joined Marine Midland Bank in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. There he handled loan and deposit relationships with major companies in the Mid-Hudson region. To many of his long-standing customers, he became a well-regarded business advisor and friend. While at Marine Midland, he earned an MBA from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University. In 1991, he retired as the bank’s Vice President and District Manager Regional Corporate Banking.
During his time in Poughkeepsie, Brad was engaged in a myriad of volunteer activities. Among the organizations in which he participated in an executive role or as a member of the board were the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation, where he served as Chairman of the Board, the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York, and the SUNY-Statewide Advisory Board for Economic Development. He also served on the boards of the Cunneen-Hackett Cultural Center, Dutchess County Arts Council, and the Mid-Hudson Civic Center. In addition, he was President and Crusade Chairman for the American Cancer Society in Dutchess County. He was a long-time member of the consistory at New Hackensack Reformed Church in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. and he was a member of the Dutchess Golf and Country Club.
He is survived by his wife and three children: Gary B. Davis and his wife, Sherri, of Elon, N.C.; Jeffrey P. Davis and his wife, Catherine, of Huntersville, N.C.; and Catherine Davis Ingersoll, and her husband, Paul, of Austin, Texas. As well, he is survived by seven grandchildren: Ashley Davis of Philadelphia, Pa.; Eric Ingersoll of Austin, Texas; Evan Ingersoll of Austin, Texas; Jeffrey Davis of Charlotte, N.C.; John Davis of Nashville, Tenn.; Neil B. Davis of Seattle, Wash.; and Nicole Davis of Elon, N.C. His great grandson, Jude Davis, also survives him.
Other survivors include his two sisters: Janet Jones of Warwick, R.I. and Lois-Ann Whitney of Denver, Colo.
Gifts in Brad’s memory may be made to the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, N.C., at this link: https://hpccr.thankyou4caring.org/
James Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family and condolences may be made through www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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