Lesley
Lesley Ann Friedman Davis
d. July 9, 2017
Lesley Ann Friedman Davis, 52, of Lynchburg died Sunday, July 9, 2017. She was the devoted wife of Ricky Hugh Davis of Lynchburg.
Lesley was born June 13, 1965, in Huntington, New York, a daughter of the late Dr. Bernard Kalman Friedman and Joan Shaw Friedman. Lesley was a Professor of Philosophy at Lynchburg College from 1993 to 2017.
Until her recent retirement, Lesley was a professor of philosophy at Lynchburg College, where she joined the faculty in 1993 and served as department chair from 2001 to 2014. A graduate of Union College (1988), she was awarded an MA in philosophy from the University of Albany (1990). She received her Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo. (1993). In addition, she completed a program of intensive study in French literature and language from the University of Rennes (France).
Known to all who worked with her for her keen intellect, graciousness, and devotion to her colleagues and students, Lesley was held in the highest regard as an instructor, scholar, servant of the campus community, and friend. Her students quickly realized that she was a natural teacher. Her high standards in the classroom, fairness, and gift for clarity earned her the Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011. Lesley was also an accomplished scholar and lecturer. The author of numerous articles and reviews on a variety of topics in American and Modern Philosophy, she was especially well known for her work on the writings of the American philosopher C.S. Peirce. She served as an adviser to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Journal of the History of Philosophy, and The Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society and was a member of numerous learned societies. In addition, Lesley served her department by founding and advising the Theoria, the philosophy club, and she secured membership for the department in the national philosophy fraternity. Always an active participant in the governance of the college, she was chosen as the first faculty member to preside over meetings of the general faculty. Faculty committees and boards from every corner of the campus sought out her participation. Her exceptional service to Lynchburg College was recognized in 2003 when she received the Elsie Bock Award for Excellence in Citizenship. In 2011, Lesley was named the John M. Turner Distinguished Chair in the Humanities. The Turner Chair is held by that member of the Lynchburg College community who best represents the ideals of humanistic teaching and scholarship. Lesley was only the fifth person to have received that title. But although she received many grants and awards in recognition of her excellence, it was the success of Lesley’s students that brought her the greatest pleasure as an academic. Her many students, colleagues, and friends on the campus were extremely fortunate that she chose to make Lynchburg her home.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Seren Ann Skelly and her son Patrick “P.J.” John Skelley both of Lynchburg, a sister, Lisa M. Schwarz of Waynesburg, PA, two brothers, Karl B. Friedman of Atlanta, GA, and Dan B. Friedman of West Babylon, NY, four nephews and one niece.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 14, 2017 at Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please consider making memorial contributions to the Awareness Garden Foundation, 1700 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg, VA 24503 or online at: www.awarenessgarden.org
Lesley was born June 13, 1965, in Huntington, New York, a daughter of the late Dr. Bernard Kalman Friedman and Joan Shaw Friedman. Lesley was a Professor of Philosophy at Lynchburg College from 1993 to 2017.
Until her recent retirement, Lesley was a professor of philosophy at Lynchburg College, where she joined the faculty in 1993 and served as department chair from 2001 to 2014. A graduate of Union College (1988), she was awarded an MA in philosophy from the University of Albany (1990). She received her Ph.D. from the University of Buffalo. (1993). In addition, she completed a program of intensive study in French literature and language from the University of Rennes (France).
Known to all who worked with her for her keen intellect, graciousness, and devotion to her colleagues and students, Lesley was held in the highest regard as an instructor, scholar, servant of the campus community, and friend. Her students quickly realized that she was a natural teacher. Her high standards in the classroom, fairness, and gift for clarity earned her the Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011. Lesley was also an accomplished scholar and lecturer. The author of numerous articles and reviews on a variety of topics in American and Modern Philosophy, she was especially well known for her work on the writings of the American philosopher C.S. Peirce. She served as an adviser to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Journal of the History of Philosophy, and The Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society and was a member of numerous learned societies. In addition, Lesley served her department by founding and advising the Theoria, the philosophy club, and she secured membership for the department in the national philosophy fraternity. Always an active participant in the governance of the college, she was chosen as the first faculty member to preside over meetings of the general faculty. Faculty committees and boards from every corner of the campus sought out her participation. Her exceptional service to Lynchburg College was recognized in 2003 when she received the Elsie Bock Award for Excellence in Citizenship. In 2011, Lesley was named the John M. Turner Distinguished Chair in the Humanities. The Turner Chair is held by that member of the Lynchburg College community who best represents the ideals of humanistic teaching and scholarship. Lesley was only the fifth person to have received that title. But although she received many grants and awards in recognition of her excellence, it was the success of Lesley’s students that brought her the greatest pleasure as an academic. Her many students, colleagues, and friends on the campus were extremely fortunate that she chose to make Lynchburg her home.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter Seren Ann Skelly and her son Patrick “P.J.” John Skelley both of Lynchburg, a sister, Lisa M. Schwarz of Waynesburg, PA, two brothers, Karl B. Friedman of Atlanta, GA, and Dan B. Friedman of West Babylon, NY, four nephews and one niece.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday, July 14, 2017 at Tharp Funeral Home Lynchburg. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please consider making memorial contributions to the Awareness Garden Foundation, 1700 Langhorne Rd. Lynchburg, VA 24503 or online at: www.awarenessgarden.org
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lesley Ann Friedman Davis, please visit our flower store.
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