Press Columnist Lee Davis, 81, Dies

Lee Davis

Lee Davis, a native of Westhampton and a longtime columnist and theater critic for The Press News Group, died on Sunday, August 28, at Southampton Hospital. He was 81.

Mr. Davis wrote the “Now & Then” column for The Southampton Press Western Edition, formerly known as The Hampton Chronicle and The Hampton Chronicle-News, for more than 30 years.

A retired teacher, Mr. Davis was also an authority on the American musical theater, and wrote a number of books on the subject. In addition, he created a series of live shows, “The American Musical Theater Salutes …” that focused on legendary composers. He also hosted a show, “The American Musical Theater,” that was aired on Peconic Public Broadcasting 88.3 FM, according to his son, Christopher B. Davis of Rockville Centre.

“The American musical theater was his great love—it really was,” Mr. Davis said, adding that his father “always seemed to be in awe of the practitioners of the art.

“He placed them as very special people,” he continued, noting that his father only dabbled in acting while in college, preferring to stick with writing and directing.

Lee Davis was born on January 14, 1930, and grew up in Westhampton. His father, Dr. Leray Davis, was a general practitioner and one of the first doctors to practice in the area, according to his son. Mr. Davis’s columns often focused on his father’s medical practice, describing how he would frequently make housecalls and often accept small farm animals as payment when his patients could not pay him.

Lee Davis taught in the Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown school districts in Westchester, and lived in Denmark for a year on a Fulbright Teaching Scholarship. He also lived in Manhattan for a time. “He taught English and humanities and, of course, directed all of the shows,” Mr. Davis said of his father’s teaching career.

In addition, Mr. Davis taught at Southampton College when it was owned by Long Island University.

“He definitely touched a lot of lives out here,” his son said. “It has almost been overwhelming, the amount of support we’ve been given. It seems that everyone we’re running into in the village knew him.”

Mr. Davis is survived by his son, Christopher Davis. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Leray Davis and Suzie Davis.

A funeral service is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, at the Westhampton Presbyterian Church, located at 90 Meeting House Road in Westhampton Beach. A private cremation will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Peconic Public Broadcasting 88.3 FM, 71 Hill Street, Southampton, NY 11968.

A complete obituary will appear in a future edition of The Press.