Jonathan “Jon” R. Davis passed away peacefully in the company of his loving family at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Friday evening after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Raised in Beverly, Jon was the son of the late Lewis W. and Frances (Adkins) Davis. After High School, Jon went on to graduate from Defiance College in Ohio and later earned his Master’s Degree from Babson College.
Jon embarked on a career in leadership positions spanning over 50 years in both the private and public sectors. For over 23 years Jon worked with the dairy product giant, H.P. Hood Co., in Charlestown. During his tenure with the company, he rose to the rank of Vice President and Controller. Upon leaving Hood, Jon began a career lasting over 21 years with the MBTA, one of the Nation’s oldest, largest and busiest public transportation agencies. As Chief Financial Officer and Deputy General Manager he helped lead the T through the most significant funding source and organizational changes to face the agency in recent decades. For the last year and a half of his career he led the MBTA as the longest serving Interim General Manager. Sought after to lead several transit agencies throughout the US, Jon chose to stay close to home with his family and took over as Treasurer of the City of Malden where he served until the time of his passing.
Jon loved to read, a passion he picked-up from his parents and happily passed on to his two children. Quiet by nature, he had a flare for adventure, earning his private pilot’s license many years ago. He was a proud Patriot’s fan, never missing a game. Jonathan was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother and loyal friend. Jon also enjoyed hiking, gardening, cooking, visiting historical sites and vacationing on the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod. Nothing meant more to Jon than spending time with his children, Jonathan and Kaitlyn and wife, Bernadette.
The beloved husband of Bernadette M. (McGlynn) Davis, Jonathan was a devoted and loving father to Jonathan R. Davis, Jr. and Kaitlyn E. Davis, both of Medford. He was a dear brother to Barbara McCarthy and her husband Robert of Wakefield, and Kenneth Davis and his wife Diane of Maine. Dear brother-in-law of Atty. Jack McGlynn, Jr. and his wife Atty. Diane of Ipswich, Atty. Dick McGlynn and his wife Paula, Karen McGlynn Devine, Former Mayor Michael J. McGlynn and his wife Sheila, all of Medford and Kevin B. McGlynn of New York City. Jon is also survived by many dear nieces and nephews.
His funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Saturday, February 22nd at 10:30 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 441 Fellsway West, Medford, at 11:30 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit at the funeral home, Friday 4-8 PM.
The Davis family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Massachusetts General Hospital for the professional and compassionate care provided to Jon during his challenging journey.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Jon’s name to the Granara - Skerry Trust PO Box 1047 - Medford MA 02155, www.pancure.org or to the CJ Moody Fund, MEIC, c/o Alex Chatfield, 1269 Main St. Concord, MA 01742 or http://www.cjmoodyfund.com