LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and accomplishments of Niles
Meriwether Davies Jr., farmer, philanthropist, and community leader

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Niles Meriwether Davies Jr. died on March 4, 2014, in the 177
year old family farmhouse he dedicated his life to, at the age of 82;
and
WHEREAS, Niles M. Davies Jr. was born in his family's farmhouse
located on the farm he worked on his entire life on November 19, 1931,
to Erica and Niles M. Davies Sr.; he was delivered by his grandmother,
Dr. Lucy Virginia Meriwether, who was one of the first female doctors in
the county; and
WHEREAS, In 1950, Niles M. Davies Jr. graduated from Nyack High
School, and two years later, he received a degree from Cornell Universi-
ty School of Agriculture; and
WHEREAS, On April 14, 1962, he married Jan (Mandell) Davies and
together the couple enjoyed 52 happily married years; and
WHEREAS, Niles M. Davies Jr. was a prolific member of the community
serving on many charitable and volunteer organizations including 56
years as a member of the Congers Volunteer Fire Department, founding
member of the Helen Hayes Hospital Foundation, the Savings Bank of Rock-
land County, President of the Rockland Center for the Arts, Rockland
County Cooperative Extension, Rockland County Day School, and the Salva-
tion Army; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, Helen Hayes Hospital opened the Jan and Niles Davies
Learning Center, a new educational center for preschool children, due to
the generous contributions made by Jan and Niles Davies; and
WHEREAS, Niles M. Davies Jr. was a direct descendent of Meriwether
Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition; he was also the grandson of
world renowned artist Arthur B. Davies who helped bring the Modern Art
Movement to The Armory Show of 1913, which introduced impressionists
Picasso, Rodin, Degas, Matisse, and Marcel Duchamp to America; and
WHEREAS, Since the young age of 10 years old, Niles M. Davies Jr.
worked on his family farm and lived a life of giving to those in need,
citing Winston Churchill's quote of "You make a living by what you get
and a life by what you give"; and
WHEREAS, Niles M. Davies Jr. is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jan;
three children, Niles Meriwether Davies III and his wife, Anne, Lee Alan
Davies and his wife, Christine, and Chris Davies Nevin and her husband,
Jeff Nevin; and eight grandchildren, Shannon, Cailyn, Casey, Jeffrey,
Niles, Thomas, Nicholas, and Matthew; as well as one sister, Sylvia
(Davies) Diehl; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Niles M. Davies Jr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and accomplishments of Niles Meriwether Davies Jr.,
farmer, philanthropist, and community leader; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Jan Davies, wife of Niles Meriwether Davies Jr.