James Davis, 63, chair of the Department of Neurology atStony Brook University, died last week when his private plane crashed inMcDowell County, Virginia. The crash, which took place just after takeoff in aheavily wooded area, also claimed the lives of his wife Frances, 59, anddaughter Amanda, 32, who were the only two passengers.
All three family members hadprofound impacts on their respective communities. ‘?Jim was an inspiredteacher, researcher, clinician, and mentor,’ said Stony Brook UniversityPresident Shirley Strum Kenny. ‘?Jim, Francie, and Amanda will be misseddearly by all of the Stony Brook community who were privileged to knowthem.’
Davis was en route to a flyinglesson in a Cessna 177 Cardinal on the morningof Friday, March 14 when the plane went down. He had flown over 500 hours inless than three years. Davis wanted to improve his emergency takeoff andlanding skills on short runways, said flight instructor Guy Maher.
When the family did not arrive ata friend’s house by 5 p.m. that day, Civil Air service began a groundsearch, and continued with an air search over the mountains the next day. Theplane was found on March 15, about 18 miles from its departure from Asheville.National Transportation Safety Board officials said Sunday they werecontinuing the investigation into the accident.
A renowned neurologist andresearcher, Davis leaves the Stony Brook community after more than 10 years ofservice. During his time here, he established outreach programs throughaffiliations with community hospitals and clinics, recruited severaldistinguished neurological subspecialists, strengthened the clinical practice,and expanded the Stony Brook’s research programs.
‘?He was one of the mainstaysof our medical school,’ said Norman H. Edelman, M.D., VicePresident/Health Sciences Center and Dean of the School of Medicine. ‘?Hewas the complete academic physician?an exceptional scientist, a loved andrespected teacher, and a wonderful provider of sophisticated neurological carewho was loved by his patients.’
Prior to his work at Stony Brook, Davis was affiliated withDuke University Medical Center for 20 years. He graduated from CornellUniversity Medical Center with an M.D. in 1965, and was a Fulbright fellow atthe University of Goteberg, Sweden, in the Departmentof Pharmacology under Dr. A. Carlson. He was celebrated for his work on thebrain’s adjustment to and recovery from strokes.
‘?Jim was a valued scientificcolleague,’ said Lorne Mendell, M.D., an associate of Davis at StonyBrook and at Duke. ‘?In developing his clinical programs, he always paidattention to the connection to the community of neuroscience researchers. Aboveall, Jim and his family were dear friends.’
Francie Davis earned twomaster’s degrees and was assistant professor and head librarian atDowling College. The three were on the first leg of a nationwide tour launchedto celebrate the release of Amanda Davis’ first novel, ‘?Wonder WhenYou’ll Miss Me.’ She had dedicated her book to her parents. Acollege professor at Mills College in Oakland, CA, she has alsopublished a collection of her short stories, entitled ‘?Circling the Drain.
Davis and his wife are survived by their son, Adam, daughterJoanna, daughter-in-law Tracey, and brother, Sandy. Funeral services were heldon March 19 at Judea Reform Temple in Durham. TheUniversity is currently planning a memorial service.
