John "Jack" R. Davis, Jr.

Engineer, Entrepreneur, former Military Officer, Philanthropist

John R. Davis, Jr. passed away peacefully on January 23, 2023. He was born to the late John R. and Norma (Palmer) Davis.

Jack graduated from Amherst Central High School and from the University at Buffalo in 1955 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. Jack honorably served in the U.S. Marine Corp and as a deck officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. He also worked as an engineer for the Carborundum Company and General Motors.

In 1964, Jack founded the I Squared R Element Company. The company manufactures silicon carbide heating elements, hot surface igniters, and disilicide heating elements for high temperature electric furnaces and appliances that are used in industrialized nations all over the world.

In 2010, Jack and his wife Barbara donated five million dollars to the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The University named a building, The Barbara and Jack Davis Hall, in his honor.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 30 years, Barbara Davis; 6 children, Jack (Marguerite) Davis of Charlotte, NC, Jill (Mark) Josephs of Potsdam, NY, Bob Davis of Corfu, NY, Al (Connie) Davis of Clarence, NY, Ace (Moriah) of MO, Star Davis, of Oakland, CA;16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a  brother, Don (Carol) Davis of San Mateo, CA and a sister, Peggy (Jerry) Jacobs of Wellington,FL. Jack is predeceased by a sister, Norma Bradley of Punta Gorda, FL.

Services for Jack will be private and at the convenience of his family. 

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