Jack Proctor Davey
Sept. 4, 1927-Oct. 28, 2015
Los Altos Hills, California

Jack P. Davey Jr., a 54-year resident of Los Altos Hills, died on Oct. 28. He spent his last days surrounded by family at the Palo Alto VA Hospice Center, where he was treated with respect and caring by wonderful staff.

Jack was born on Sept. 4, 1927, in Mineola, Long Island. He attended Western Military Academy in Alton, Illinois, where he learned how to be a capable and organized student, and how to be a team player. He was proud to have been a 220 yard freestyler and years later taught the love of swimming to his children. He received his BS in engineering at Purdue and an MBA from Ohio State.

He met the love of his life, Mary Curtis, at a bridge party, in Bexley, Ohio, and they married in 1951. Mary became pregnant while she was a student at Smith. Jack was always proud that his wife was Smith's first married, pregnant graduate, and that his son John received his degree in utero.

Jack served in the ROTC in undergraduate and graduate school and was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force after graduation. He loved the camaraderie and clarity of military life.

He moved with Mary and his three children to California in 1961. Once out of uniform, Jack became a "peddler." As a regional or national sales manager he traveled the U.S., selling missiles, flight simulators, electronic devices and smart traffic lights. The salesman's life made him an expert joke teller. Even though he suffered from Alzheimer's later in life, he retained his wit and comic timing.

In 1970, Jack started Automatic Telephone. He was ahead of his time, selling answering machines when they were a novelty, and speed dialers when people still wrestled with rotary phones. Over the years his children, and many of their friends, worked in the family business. His entrepreneurship and creativity were inspiring.

When Jack retired he shared his vast marketing and business experience as a volunteer for SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). He also worked as an English tutor for Russian immigrants through the Jewish Community Center. His wife, Mary Davey, was a tireless environmental and social activist, and Jack served as her "back up singer" while she changed the world.

He is predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Mary Davey. He is survived by his son, John Davey of Atherton; daughter, Kit Davey of Redwood City; son, Curt Davey of Missoula, Montana; and grandchildren, John, Devon, Christopher and Callan.

Tags: veteran, business, public service