KAREN DAVIS

DAVIS, Karen LaRue Age 72, of Newton, died at home, in the comfort of her family, on April 27, 2023, from glioblastoma. Born to Peggy Lou (Seyler) and John Herschel Davis, and raised in Shaker Heights, OH. She was the adored bossy older sister of Wendy and Halle. Karen attended Allegheny College, the University of Glasgow for her junior year, and obtained a Master's degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. She retired in 2017 from Brown University as VP for Human Resources. She previously served in leadership positions at Harvard University, NYU School of Medicine, SUNY/Downstate Medical Center, and the NYC adult homeless shelter system. Karen married Randall Block on April 20, 1986, in Rockport, MA. He survives her, as do their children, Jeffrey and Peter; their daughter-in-law, Caroline Cogan; grandson Connor; and her sisters, Wendy Davis and Halle Davis of Burlington, VT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Allegheny College, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335. For Memorial Service information, online guestbook and complete obituary, please visit www.gfdoherty.com George F. Doherty & Sons Needham 781 444 0687

Published by Boston Globe from Apr. 29 to Apr. 30, 2023.

A note from Gina Rogers.....

I just picked up the wonderful video tribute Karen Davis’ family posted.  If you haven’t seen it, check it out:  https://www.currentobituary.com/member/obit/275146.  So many of the pictures looked just like my life… the 1950s in Shaker Heights, but then also so many parallels later too!!  Karen and I were good friends at Woodbury and then the early years at Shaker High but sadly fell out of touch after high school.  The video showed parallels like – similar high school yearbook photos, same vacation spots, same BIG glasses in the late seventies, living in side-by-side communities=Newton/Wellesley, two kids mine at Wellesley High versus hers at Newton South, connections to Harvard School of Public Health where I was a consultant on several fascinating projects…   I did run in to Karen once in Newton Lower Falls, but sadly, with kids and work and all, we never reconnected…  Sounds like the family had a wonderful celebration of her life!

I looked back to see if I could find any pictures from the Shaker High days…  all I found was this picture of what I think is a good-bye party for Suzi Gilchrist when she moved to Kansas (dated July 1966), 9 of us maybe in my backyard (Weybridge Rd). Includes friends Sue Cockrell and Bonnie Tyler and Betsy Broder and Barbara Burkhart, Martha Gardner I think. Let me know if you spot yourself!! Not the best picture, but memories for sure.