Forbes Davidson

Forbes Davidson was born in Portland, Oregon, the only child of Isaac Forbes Davidson and Judith Gilseth Davidson.  Forbes attended Oregon State University where he met his wife of 51 years, Lois Davidson.  Forbes was drafted 2 weeks after their honeymoon; fortunately he was sent to Germany instead of Vietnam.  Their only child, Lara, was born in a military hospital in Germany. After the service they moved to Austin, Texas where Forbes got his PhD in embryology at the University of Texas.  During that time, Forbes could be counted on to study hard,  play a lot of practical jokes, run fast and drink a lot of beer.  After receiving his PhD, Forbes worked at UT as a researcher and lecturer for 16 years.  Forbes was the president of the Austin Runners Club for 6 years.  He put on many running races around the Austin area.  He is one of the founders of the Capitol 10,000 and a short lived race (the IRS seized the ranch) at Willie Nelson's ranch outside Austin. Forbes was an incredible mentor to countless graduate students in his time at UT.  Forbes's big personality and the joy he took in the things he loved inspired people to want to be like him and spend time with him.

Forbes and Lois moved to the Western Slope in 1993.  Forbes became a biology professor at Mesa State, and Lois eventually joined him at Mesa State in the Chemistry department.  In his 18 year tenure, Forbes was a popular instructor at Mesa State (now Colorado Mesa University) because of the time he took with his students. One of his students had this to say about him "Today I found out that one of my college professors passed away. He was a towering man, always had to strain my neck to talk to him. He was also one of the kindest souls that I ever met. He was an incredible intellect, but was as humble a human being as ever existed. I can still hear him telling me that he was just an old fart with bad hearing.  He always made me feel comfortable in his presence. He gave me two of the greatest gifts anyone can give a person - the gift of knowledge, and the gift of an example of a life very well lived. It has been 21 years since I graduated and last saw him, but I haven't forgotten much about him. And, I know this won't change. So please remember - everyone we meet has some part in making us the people we are. Don't ever take for granted the influence you have on someone's life."  I know this student is not alone in that feeling.

A friend just gave me Khalil Gilbran's "The Prophet."  In it he said, "When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."  Today we weep for Forbes, as he has given us such joy.  His generous spirit, keen intellect, and love of nature kept us all outside enjoying life.  He loved to camp, raft, fish, tell stories, sing in English, German and Latin, and make things with wood.  He will be remembered by all who knew him as one of a kind.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or to Hope West Hospice.  Or, get outside, do something you love and tell a story about Forbes.