The death has taken place of Kevin Davis, a life-long advocate for Ireland who enjoyed both African American and Irish roots.
A respected healthcare administrator and native of Philadelphia, Kevin was to the fore in a range of Irish networks and activities. He patronised the Irish American Business Chamber and Network when he lived in Philadelphia and supported Friends of Sinn Féin events in the U.S.
A graduate of La Salle Catholic University in Philadelphia, Kevin last travelled to Ireland in 2017 to attend the Friendship Four college ice basketball tournament in Belfast to cheer on the famed Explorers of his alma mater.
During that visit, he memorably got to try out his basic Irish in an interview with Gaeilge radio station Raidió Fáilte.
Kevin David Davis was the son of the late Walter Davis and Shirley Murray (Davis) and born on October 31, 1957. He was raised in Germantown where he lived with his mother and four siblings, Keith, Kirk, Kyle and Kristle. They were fondly referred to as "The 5 K's".
Kevin attended parochial schools for his early education and graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School in 1975.
He then went on to La Salle University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Kevin pursued his education further and attended University of Tennessee receiving his Master's Degree in Healthcare Planning & Administration. He later attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received an Executive Education Certificate in 2001. Kevin was scheduled to graduate this June from Drexel University with a Master's Degree of Health Administration.
Kevin was extremely career driven and utilized his knowledge and expertise to help develop and improve many health care corporations throughout the country.
In a joint statement on his passing, the La Salle University and Athletics Department paid tribute to Kevin for his friendly and fun-filled demeanor. "Kevin cultivated life-time relationships with friends all over the world," read the statement. "The world will miss his loving smile, his infectious laughter, that booming voice and his amazing sense of humor."
In 2007, Kevin Davis was a recipient of the Irish Echo Black and the Green Award. In 2020, at the Belfast International Homecoming celebrations (held virtually due to COVID), he was among recipients of the Belfast International Homecoming Ambassador Medal for his services to transatlantic partnerships. Declaring himself "humbled" by the accolade, he added: "If we (myself, Team Belfast, and others) are able to move the needle in a positive direction by continuing to lift our voices while building bridges, then Belfast, the United States, and the world will truly be a more equitable, civil, just, prosperous, and better place tomorrow."
"They good Lord broke the mould when he made Kevin," said Irish Echo publisher Máirtín Ó Muilleoir. "He lit up every room he entered and treated every person he met like a long-lost friend. He was an avid supporter of Irish Echo events over two decades and a firm friend of Irish America and of Irish unity. He will be sorely missed on both sides of the Atlantic."
A memorial service will take place for Kevin Davis at La Salle University on 7 August.
Ar dheis láimh Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
