PIEDMONT — Services will be held Friday for beloved youth sports leader Murray Davis, who died unexpectedly Dec. 29 while vacationing in Hawaii, his family said.
Services will be at 1 p.m. at Temple Beth Abraham, 327 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Memorial donations may be made to the Temple or to the Piedmont Baseball Foundation, c/o Treasurer Paula Woolcott, 430 Hampton Road, Piedmont, CA 94611.
Davis died from an apparent heart attack.
“We are just heartbroken,” Woolcott said Thursday. “He was such an asset to the community. His position can’t be filled. He dedicated himself full-time to Piedmont and to his church.”
“I think of his big smile ear to ear, always positive and happy. We looked to him as the wise old owl on the board. He shared his experiences and was always generating new ideas.”
Davis was past president of the Piedmont Baseball Foundation and the Piedmont High School Boosters.
Assistant schools Superintendent Randall Booker said of Davis on Thursday: “I am deeply saddened by Murray’s sudden passing. We worked closely together on the PHS athletic program for a number of years while I served as principal.
“Murray was passionate about Piedmont athletics. He served as a coach, mentor, a role model and a steward for our athletic program.
“On behalf of the Piedmont Unified School District, we offer our support and sincere condolences to the entire Davis family.”
Conna McCarthy served with Davis on the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization board, organized to build a youth sports complex at Blair Park. The Davis sons were friends with McCarthy’s sons. She knew Davis for 10 years.
“He was an absolutely beautiful human being,” McCarthy said. “He was funny, smart and dedicated to his family. He took absolute joy in his sons.”
“He left a positive memory for everyone who knew him, influencing kids now and in the future. Murray never met anyone who he didn’t make his friend.”
Davis was also a musician and had worked in finance. He became a stay-at-home father who was actively involved in raising his sons, while helping his wife, Virginia, launch two businesses, his family said.
An impromptu memorial was created over the weekend at the Piedmont High baseball field, with caps, flowers and other tributes to Davis.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, his mother Shirley Davis, sisters Ellen Sears, Laurie Sobelman and Sally Davis, and sons Milo, Max and Corey.