John L. Davis
February 15, 1927 — June 22, 2015
John L. Davis, age 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 22, 2015.
John is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Dorothy (nee Cassidy) Davis; Children, John T. Davis, Madonna (Mike) Gale, Gerard (Crystal) Davis, Kathleen (Len) Capristo, Dennis (Claudia) Davis; grandchildren Michael Gale, Andrew Davis, Patrick Gale, Nicholas Davis, Gabrielle Davis, Ryne Davis, Sheridan Davis, and Tyler Capristo; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by his parents, John and Ellen (Murphy) Davis.
John was born in Boston, Massachusetts and was a proud United States Army Veteran. A graduate of Indiana University, John was an All American defensive back on the 1949-1951 Indiana University football teams. In three years he didn't miss a minute of defensive play and in his last two seasons the Hoosiers ranked top three in the nation in pass defense. After graduating with distinction, Davis was a third round draft pick of the professional Chicago Cardinals in 1952 (now the Chicago Bears), but declined the contract offer in order to continue his education and coaching. He continued as assistant freshman coach in 1952 and 1953, and advanced to become IU's varsity backfield coach in 1954.
John later moved to the Joliet area and embarked on a long career with the Joliet Township High Schools where he held numerous teaching, coaching and administrative positions, including Dean of Students and Vice Principal. Upon retiring, John served as the Assistant Athletic Director for Indiana University. John was an avid outdoorsman and spent many summers running a boys summer camp, Ottawa Trails, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The family would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to the staff of Sunny Hill Nursing Home and the Joliet Area Community Hospice Home for the compassion and care extended to John and his family.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in John's name to Friends of Sunny Hill or Joliet Area Community Hospice.
A celebration of John's life will begin on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 with a Mass of Christian Burial to be held at 9:30 a.m. at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Crest Hill. There will be no funeral home services or visitation. Interment of cremated remains will be held privately.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
St. Ambrose Catholic Church
1711 Burry Circle Drive
Crest HIll, IL 60403