Rupert A. M. Davis
Rupert A. M. Davis of Arlington, Massachusetts died suddenly from a heart condition on June 4th.
Named after the English poet Rupert Brooke, Rupert was born in London, England in 1949 and raised in Norfolk. After the death of his father, Col. Peter Davis, a doctor, in 1961, his mother, Valerie (Martin) Davis, married Dr. Jack N.P. Davies, a renowned medical pathologist. Following his stepfather’s postings, the family lived for several years in Uganda, and emigrated to Albany, New York where Rupert attended the Albany Academy. Rupert is survived by his half-brother Nigel Davis and his sister-in law Anne Davies, both of New York State, and by his cousin Cherry Edgerton-Bird of Maryland.
Rupert studied art history and historic preservation at Boston University, and worked as an archivist and researcher at Harvard’s Widener Library and the Bostonian Society, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, and store manager of Schoenhof’s Foreign Books and Shaker Workshops. He was a devoted congregant at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge, where he sang in the choir. He was a longtime member of the Boston Athenaeum and an avid reader, deeply informed on subjects ranging from Medieval architecture and liturgical vestments to the peccadilloes of the British royal family. Rupert was a committed preservationist and antiquarian, active in the New England Chapter of the Victorian Society in America, the Gibson House and the Old Schwamb Mill. Although he lived his entire adult life in the United States, he never lost his English accent, nor his courtly charm and delightfully raffish sense of humor. In every setting, he cultivated lasting friendships, and will be keenly missed.
A service will be held at St. Peter’s Church once social distancing restrictions allow in-person gatherings. Donations in Rupert’s memory can be made to St Peter’s Church, 15 Sellers Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 or https://saintpeterscambridge.org/donations/ or to the Boston Athenaeum, Attn: Development Office, 10½ Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108 or https://www.bostonathenaeum.org/.
Guestbook Entries
Good people,
I worked with Rupert for several years while we were both at Schoenhof’s Foreign Books, and would often get news of him through our mutual friends there. I got an email with the news of Rupert’s death and was very saddened by it. He was a pleasure to work with, marvelously intelligent and a delight to talk to, and a generous and genial person to have as a friend. It was good to hear at least that he was not plagued with a long and painful illness, but I will miss thinking of him being up there in Cambridge. I wish him godspeed.
All best, Glenn Shea
We send our condolences to the friends and family. Rupert will be missed. He was one of a kind.
Rob and Sally Quinn
I first met Rupert in 1971 when he hired me to be his secretary in the Orders and Receipts Dept. at Harvard’s Widener Library. After we both moved along to other jobs in the following years we always stayed in contact. Rupert was a true friend. He was godfather to my daughter Margaret. He visited my family often over the last 40 years. When he visited we would drive to see interesting villages and tour historic houses. He would bring an interesting cheese, we would provide the wine and there would be hours of conversation. He often came to visit over holidays and we saw him last at Thanksgiving 2019 then Covid 19 came and we missed seeing him during Easter. Little did we think that that would be the last time we would see him. He was a gentleman, intelligent, well read and informed on many subjects. We will truly miss his dry English wit and companionable presence. Though he lived in the United States for over 55 years he was an Englishman to the end.
I was a fairly near neighbor, we used to meet for tea on his lovely, en-jungled balcony and talk about Vezelay (and other things French–I first met him at Schoenhof’s.)
He overcame so much and counted all he was able to do as gift. I just wish he’d had the chance to go back to France once more…I’ll miss him so much.
DLa Rue