Samuel Chase Davenport

Jefferson – Samuel C. Davenport, 90, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester. He was born on Staten Island, NYC, the son of Stephen R. and Mariana B. (Bonnell) Davenport and grew up in New York and Riverside, CT.

Sam graduated from Kent School, Kent, CT in 1951 and went on to earn a B.A. in History from Amherst College in 1955. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and while there, spent two years playing on the post baseball team that traveled in the summer to play in continental and overseas tournaments. After his honorable discharge, Sam earned an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Sam married the love of his life, Carolyn Shirley (Mattocks) and settled in Jefferson where they lived and shared 60 years of marriage. He began his career at Norton Co. in 1959 where he managed four different manufacturing facilities and later provided Human Resource services for domestic and international operations, retiring in 1991. He also was an adjunct instructor for Clark University, teaching courses in business. Sam was a volunteer for many organizations such as the Law Offender Opportunity Program, a work release program to place released convicts into employment opportunities. In the 1970’s he helped establish the Worcester Pee Wee Hockey Association which found the land and built a skating rink in Worcester that served 1,200 youngsters. He also served on the Board of Notre Dame Academy and managed the Worcester/Local Business collaborative to provide the city of Worcester with business expertise to improve city operations. In retirement he provided pro bono career counseling to people who had recently lost their jobs.

Sam was a devoted member of Saint Francis Episcopal Church in Holden. He could often be found volunteering for the church community, building accessible ramps, cleaning yards, working for the Mustard Seed and visiting the Nursing Home on Sundays. Sam loved to play hockey and skate on the local ponds. He was an avid outdoorsman and especially enjoyed fly fishing, camping and hiking. He was a member of the Holden Towers Tennis Club and loved to play tennis. He spent many vacations with his parents and later his family at Baxter State Park, one of his favorite places. Sam had a special talent for carpentry and helped build his son’s log home and his daughter’s barn. Sam and Shirley took many wonderful trips in retirement including one with his family to the Philippines in 1996 to visit Shirley’s birth place and tour WWll sites with ex-POWs and their liberators. Above all he cherished spending time with his family.

Sam will be lovingly missed and remembered by his wife of 60 years, Carolyn Shirley (Mattocks) Davenport; his son, Dwight Davenport of Princeton; his daughter, Heather Davenport of Swanzey, NH; Anne Davenport of Worcester, his brothers, Stephen Davenport and his wife, Joanna of Oakland, CA and John Davenport and his wife, Sally of Hingham; his grandchildren, Samuel Chase Davenport II and Keith Francis Davenport; his sister-in-law, Cecily Marshall of Worcester, as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Henry Davenport.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 70 Highland St., Holden. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hockey Fights Cancer or the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Central MA.

Arrangements are under the care of Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. To share a memory or offer an online condolence, please visit his "Tribute Wall" on this page.