Rabbi David Davis, 83, passed away on July 7, 2020. He was a distinguished scholar and theologian who established the first chair in Judaic Studies at a Catholic university in the United States and was the first Rabbi to occupy a full-time position in the theology department of an American university.



From 1976 to 1996, Rabbi Davis served as Associate Vice President for University Relations and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of San Francisco. During that time, he also continued his work, begun in 1977, as Director of the Swig Judaic Program at USF.

Prior to university work, Rabbi Davis served as Chaplain of San Quentin Prison for eight years, and as Senior Rabbi of Congregation Rodef Sholom in San Rafael, California (1970-76). He was Associate Director of the National Federation of Temple Youth in New York (1967-70) and Assistant Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts (1965-67).

In 2000, Rabbi Davis joined Vanderbilt University as a member of the Administration and Faculty and served in that capacity until 2005. Prior to his tenure at Vanderbilt, Rabbi David Davis served as Rabbi of The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville, TN from 1997-2001, at which time he was named Rabbi Laureate.



In 2005, Rabbi Davis joined the faculty of ASU where he taught at Barrett, the Honors College, and Osher Life Long Learning until 2019.



In addition to his wife, Patricia, survivors include six children, a brother and 11 grandchildren.

Donations in memory of Rabbi Davis may be made to the Rabbi David Davis Memorial Fund  (Source: Arizona Republic)