Services Set For Celebrated Redding Doctor Edward Davies

Information and Photo Courtesy Bouton Funeral Home

REDDING, CT — Edward Alfred Davies, husband, father, grandfather, friend, and physician to thousands of children over a half-century in practice, died peacefully at home in Redding on Dec. 4. He was 88.

As director of pediatrics at Lenox Hill Hospital and as faculty member at both Weill Cornell and New York University School of Medicine, "Dr. Davies" mentored generations of pediatricians and nurses in world-class clinical care, diagnostics and genuine engagement with the patient. And often, the patient did not have the language to express "where it hurt." He was recognized by the Dysautonomia Foundation for treatment of infants with nervous system disorders. He founded a newborn ICU at Lenox Hill which was expanded into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and named in his honor.

Dovetailing with his advocacy for children, Dr. Davies was a founding trustee of the International Preschools, served as school doctor at multiple institutions and always found time to speak with a parent at length and with compassion. His demanding residency at Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital in the United States, provided a template for care of all children.

Edward Davies attended Brunswick School in Greenwich, and graduated from Choate, Harvard and New York University College of Medicine. He was a Captain in the US Air Force and assigned to Maxwell-Gunter AFB in Montgomery, AL. He received orders to report to NATO base – Morón Air Base – in De la Frontera, Spain - and stood duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Dr. Davies is survived by his wife of 65 years, Suzanne, his four children and their spouses – Wendy Davies and Walter Johnsen, Kim O'Rielly, Becca Davies and Jeremy Kramer, and James and Heather Davies, his grandchildren Walter Johnsen, Alex, Chris and Jim O'Rielly, Stewart, Edward, Daisy and George Kramer, and William and Peter Davies. He was predeceased by his grandson Thomas Davies and his parents Helen and William D. Davies, his brother William Davies II and sister Helen Simpson.

He will be remembered for his joy for opera, gardens, trees, photo albums, and family gatherings. His interests were eclectic – he would play Tchaikovsky on the piano and then attend the original performance of "Hair" at The Public. He was a man of faith, a gentle man and a gentleman.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 11 at 2 p.m. at The Brick Presbyterian Church, 62 E 92nd St., New York, NY.