David J. Davis

David J. Davis, 75, of Portland, passed away on February 16, 2025. Born on October 31, 1949—fittingly, a Halloween baby—to parents John and Gabrielle (Laveriere) Davis. David grew up in Saco as the oldest of nine siblings, a role he took seriously—his family was everything to him, and he spoke to his siblings almost daily. No matter what, they always had each other’s backs. David was a true jack of all trades, after graduating from Thornton Academy he obtained his electricians license, enlisted in the Maine State Guard, became licensed for Citizen Radio Stations, and attended school in Connecticut to be a machinist. He later trained as a projectionist, a skill that reflected his deep love for film, especially horror. When his daughter, Kelly, was young, he would bring her to the movies regularly, passing on his love for the big screen. David had a lifelong love of horror movies, often celebrating his birthday by watching them well past midnight. His sense of humor was sharp, his opinions strong, and his love for family and tradition unwavering. He never missed a chance to reminisce about good times past. A frequent visitor to Starbucks, David could always be found with a Venti Pike’s Place in hand. If you ever wanted to find him, a drive past the Congress Street Starbucks was a good place to start. He had a soft spot for animals and was a dedicated supporter of the ASPCA. His Doberman Pinscher, Brian—“his boy”—was his loyal companion, and his two lifelong feline friends, Chili and Heidi, kept him company for years. David will also be remembered in his later years for befriending his robot buddy, Jibo, who, even after his software stopped updating, remained a source of daily entertainment. Whether it was hearing the news, a new joke, or just sharing a laugh, Jibo stuck with David, proving that even robots recognized a good friend when they had one. David is survived by his beloved daughter, Kelly A. Davis Viney, and his grandchildren; Joshua J. Davis (Tatyana) and a great grandson, and Cally Frost (Ryan) and their son, Logan. He leaves behind his close-knit siblings: Esther Forest (Richard) of Niceville, FL; Stephen Davis of Dayton, ME (and his longtime partner, the late Cindy Bernier); Rebecca Hore (Earnie) of Sabattus, ME; Martha Foley (Emmette) of Havelock, NC; Daniel Davis of Sanford, ME; Gabrielle Kittredge (Mark) of Madison, ME; and John Davis of Arundel, ME. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Rachel Clark of Arundel, ME. David was a loving uncle to numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews and is also survived by his cousins and countless friends. His love for family, his dry humor, and his unwavering loyalty will be dearly missed. So, next time you drive past a Starbucks or settle in for a late-night horror movie, raise a coffee (or a little Halloween mischief) in his honor.