James Francis Davey, a resident of Cary, North Carolina, passed away on June 16, at the age of 87. He was the third child of the late Admiral Thomas L. and Mrs. Catherine Timpane Davey. He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Carmelita (Connie), and by his sister, Catherine.
Jim was born at Parris Island, South Carolina, in 1935. Common to life in a Navy family, his first years saw a lot of moving. On December 7, 1941, the Daveys' home was on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, a few hundred yards from Battleship Row. Throughout his life, Jim carried, and shared, vivid memories of the events of that infamous date.
As soon as it was safe to sail from Hawaii, the family moved to Rhode Island for the duration of the war and beyond. It was here that Jim’s lifelong devotion to the Boston Red Sox took root, hitchhiking with a buddy to his first game at Fenway while in grade school.
Jim attended North Kingstown High School (‘53), and was known as a smart, charming, handsome, athletic, and fun-loving young man who wasn’t afraid to test the limits if it guaranteed a good time. He attended the University of Rhode Island (’58) as a commuter student, working a variety of jobs to pay his way through. While in college, he met and fell in love with his wife of 61 years, Carmelita (Connie) Trigo. Upon marrying in 1960 Jim and Connie moved to Holmes Run Acres in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. where they began dedicated careers of public service, raised their two children, enjoyed an uncommonly close-knit community of friends, and remained until they retired.
Jim’s career began with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he served as an auditor both in the U.S. and abroad. During this time, at Connie’s urging, Jim attended Georgetown Law (‘65) in the evenings. After receiving his law degree, Jim was hired as part of a small team tasked with conducting a management review of the Washington, D.C. court system. Jim’s outstanding work on this team led to his career in federal court administration.
In 1970, Jim was appointed Chief Clerk of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, a position he held until his retirement in 1991. It was here where his life once again touched major historic events: the Watergate trials, the Pentagon Papers, the trial of John Hinckley and others. His incomparable vantage point led to incomparable stories – which he never tired of sharing over a beer or two. Jim was known among his peers in federal court administration as an innovator and reformer - some of his initiatives in DC would later be adopted by all the Federal Courts. He also served as President of the Federal Court Clerks Association (FCCA) in 1976.
Jim sought a life of service, purpose, and plain fun. It’s not surprising that outside of his career, he also experienced out-sized accomplishments: climbing mountains, running marathons, even serving a term in the Rhode Island Legislature. His family and friends will remember him for his inimitable integrity, endless good humor and life of adventure: traveling the world with family and friends, skiing with his “Geezers,” winning and losing softball tournaments, dominating card games, body surfing, kayaking, flying kites, leaping off ferry docks, skydiving . . . and never giving up on the Boston Red Sox.
Jim is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Kathleen Davey; his grandchildren, Kelly, Patrick, Ryan and Sean; his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Davey and Benjamin Dudley; his older brother, Thomas Davey; his younger brother and sister-in-law, John and Barbara Davey; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at LiveWell Cary who took care of Jim this past year and always abided his desire for more ice cream. We are profoundly grateful for your professionalism and humanity.
A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 4, 2023 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 62 Pleasant Street, West Warwick, RI 02893. Burial to follow Notre Dame Cemetery, Burlingame Road, West Warwick, RI. All are welcomed to a Reception afterwards.
Donations in his memory may be made to Transitions LifeCare or Dementia Alliance of NC.
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