The following was read at adjournment by Mayor Lisa Gillmor at Tuesday’s Santa Clara City council meeting for former City Councilmember Debi Davis who passed away a few days ago during the Easter weekend:
It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that I share the passing of our former Councilmember and my dear friend, Debi Davis.
Debi served the City of Santa Clara with integrity, heart, and an unwavering commitment to public service. Her time on the City Council from 2012 to 2020, including her role as Vice Mayor in 2015, was marked by tireless advocacy, thoughtful leadership, and a sincere love for our community.
Debi was more than a colleague, she was a force for good. She believed in listening first, speaking with purpose, and always doing what she felt was right for the people of Santa Clara.
She served on countless boards and committees locally and regionally—Santa Clara Valley Water Commission, the San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant, BAWSCA, the Cities Association, Triton Museum Liaison, Economic and Marketing Committee, Governance Committee, just to name a few… and always representing our city with grace and dedication.
Debi was deeply invested in our city’s future. She played a vital leadership role in the Downtown Revitalization Committee, laying the foundation for the eventual formation of Reclaiming Our Downtown. She organized meetings, brought in urban planners, and engaged the community in imagining what could be. Her passion and groundwork were the spark that ignited a movement to restore our historic downtown and preserve our city’s identity.
Beyond her public roles, Debi brought warmth, humility, friendship and humor to all who knew her. She was active in the Soroptimists, the American Legion, the Santa Clara Woman’s Club, Sister Cities International, Mission City Community Fund, and so many other organizations that benefited from her generosity and spirit.
She was also a devoted wife to Bill, a retired Santa Clara Police Officer, her partner of more than 30 years. Their love was a quiet strength that grounded her through every chapter of her life and service.
Debi passed away after a short illness, and her absence is already deeply felt. A Celebration of Life will be held in the near future, and we will share details as they become available.
Today, we honor Debi’s memory not just with sadness, but with immense gratitude. She gave so much to this city, her energy, her ideas, her kindness, and her time. And she did it all with heart.
Rest in peace, Debi. Thank you for everything. We will miss you dearly.
Thank you for your post, Burt – so sweet and so true.
I was blessed to know and work with Debi Davis through the Mission City Community Fund, Santa Clara Woman’s Club, Santa Clara Women’s League/Showtime, and the City of Santa Clara. Within every organization, she brought intelligence, humor, enthusiasm and a deep love and caring for the people with whom she worked and played. Lunches at City Lights Expresso, meetings of ad hoc committees for the City Council, nonprofit fundraisers, and post-Council late night breakfasts at Denny’s – Debi brought life and fun to it all. We were so lucky to have had this amazing friend in our lives. God rest you, Debi – I’ll miss you.
Thank you, Robert, for sharing the statement read by Mayor Gillmor to honor our former colleague, Debi Davis.
I had planned to call in. Unfortunately, a call I was on finished too late to call in to the council meeting while the Mayor shared the adjournments for His Holiness Pope Francis and our former City Councilmember and friend, Debi Davis. Having served on the City Council with Debi from 2016-2020, I wanted to add how Debi moved to Santa Clara from New York in 2003 and adopted her new home with open arms but never forgot her New York roots.
Debi was a woman of faith who always believed in being on the side of righteousness. She would always remind you there were two sides to every story and the truth was somewhere in the middle.
Despite her moving back to the East Coast, we talked often. Debi loved to reminisce about our days on the City Council and Santa Clara Sister Cities. She added so much to that group by building up the Youth Commission and fundraisers.
How fitting was it to have not only the City flag lowered to honor her memory but to share the honor of having all the flags lowered to honor both Pope Francis and Debi Davis.
Rest in Peace, Debi Davis and Pope Francis. Your memories are truly a blessing.
So hard to believe she has passed away. She was just so young, and still had so much to offer this World.
Sadly, and this happens all too often, many times you don’t fully appreciate a person until it’s too late. However in this case, it is my strong belief that when she closed her eyes for the last time, her heart was full. She knew she was loved, respected and appreciated by those who knew her.
Goes back to a statement I heard years ago.
“Everyone dies, but not everyone lives”.
Debbie lived a great life, and the proof is in this huge outpour of love coming from many different walks of life, and all at the same time.
If I had one wish right now, it would be for her to just see and experience how much of an impact she truly made in our City and all the lives around her.
My take on all of this is simple.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to tell those around you just how much you appreciate them.
May seem a bit uncomfortable at times, but deep down people need to hear the good stuff as well.
Rest In Peace Debbie, you lived a great life, you will be missed.
Burt Field
78′ Buchser Grad