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Born as the only child to Joan McCraw and Russell Davies in North Adams, Massachusetts in September 1955. He attended the University of Miami graduating with a degree in engineering. He worked in the aerospace industry for several companies including Martin Marietta (Florida), McDonnell Douglas (Florida), and Gulfstream (Georgia) before ending his career with a 20+ year stint at the FAA (New Jersey). He specialized in composite materials and their application to aerospace technologies. When he was not working, he loved to tinker with a variety of vehicles and spent time with his hobbies. He was passionate about flying, sailing, photography, golf, and traveling. He shared his love of these interests with friends, including excursions to such places as Oshkosh, WI (camping) and navigating the Panama Canal (sailing). He is survived by his two daughters, Daniele Presser of Adelaide, Australia and Monique Davies of South Boston, Virginia.
In lieu of flowers please donate to one of the following non-profit organizations.
As an active member of EAA (https://www.eaa.org) the family is recommending donations to the Free Young Eagles® Program (https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/free-ye-flights). The donation page is: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/apps/donations/donationye
Alternately, checks may be sent to EAA Aviation Center, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, WI 54902
Please put “In Memory of Curtis Davies” for the Free Young Eagles Program
As an avid sailing enthusiast, the family is recommending donations to be sent to Sail to Prevail (https://sailtoprevail.org/) through the online donation page - https://sailtoprevail.org/support/.
Checks may be sent to Sail To Prevail, Inc., P.O. Box 1264, Newport, RI 02840
Graveside Funeral Service will be at Seaside Cemetery on December 8th at 12:30.
Funeral Reception will be at Anchorage Tavern Restaurant at 1:15 pm.
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Resting Place
Seaside Cemetery Co
39.2500025, -74.66113399999999
Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Curtis’s life with a heartfelt message.
Tami Croom
So happy to have known Curt and to have worked with him during the NASA Advanced Composites Project. He brought experience and insight to every Consortium meeting and he was a true team player. So many great ideas and conversations over a glass of wine in the evening! The picture is of project leadership during a dinner in the Space Needle—a Seattle landmark.
Francisco K Arakaki
Francisco K Arakaki published a comment Less than a minute ago. My feelings! Curtis will always be with us in our minds!
Carl Rousseau
Curt was a leader in CMH17 for 20+ years and I'm grateful that we were able to recognize his achievements with our highest award at our October meeting. His professional contributions to the field were significant and we'll all miss him. A life well-lived!
Ronald Krueger
I knew Curt through my interaction with the FAA and in particular through Composite Materials Handbook CMH-17 where Curt held a leadership position for many years. Amongst us casually dressed engineers Curt always stood out as the well-dressed gentlemen with coat and tie and his old-school charm. He took great interest in my work and served as technical monitor in the part that was funded by the FAA Tech Center. Besides work on composites we enjoyed a beer together and talked about traveling and his love for flying. Curt will be missed.
James Ratcliffe
Curt Davies was my kind of person; never afraid to tell you how it is and always doing so with his heart of gold never far away. Bloody miss you.
Bijan Deris
Curt, a remarkable leader whose impactful contributions to aerospace and composites development have left an enduring legacy. His leadership style, marked by inclusivity and respect for diverse opinions, made him an inspiring figure for me and many others. May his legacy continue to inspire and guide those in the aerospace community. You will be missed greatly.
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