A Tribute to Our Beloved Nora Davis
How I knew Nora
When I first met her, I was producing the Emeryville News, a newspaper for the City of Emeryville and the Emeryville Chamber of Commerce. She always emailed or called me right back when I was looking for an interview or quote for a story. And her quote was always deeply felt and on spot. It surprised me. Not many were like that.
I remember going before the City Council to ask for approval to produce the city’s first race – The Shortest Triathlon Ever with Dr. Warren Strudwick, Bay Area Orthopaedic Sports & Spine. Nora looked me straight in the eyes, giving me her support as I talked. With approval, we went forward and the day of that first race, it was raining. I had prepared a chair for Mayor Nora with balloons tied to it at the finish line. Though it was raining, she said, “Let’s just do it,” and we sat and watched the community straggle in to the finish as the rain poured down. She cheered on every single person. Good thing the race was so short, we did not get totally soaked.
Here is Nora with Mary Lou Thiercof, race coordinator, Hanns Detlefsen, winner at 22 min, 51 sec, and Kurt Brinkman, Council member and annual volunteer.
She was mayor many times over the years, When the America’s Cup came to town, well not exactly to Emeryville, I was planning a Destination Emeryville program to bring visitors to the America’s Cup in SF to Emeryville to dock, stay, dine and play. With my partner Malaga Smith, SF on the Bay planned to design banners to welcome folks and let them know what a fun city they had landed in. Again, I had to go before City Council for approval. I had talked to Nora prior and she loved the idea of the banners. We asked for 156 banners to hang down Powell St to the marina. In the middle of my plea, she said she wanted to see the banners everywhere – all down Shellmound to Bay St and to the Public Market. It was unanimously approved, and we produced and hung over 300 banners depicting all the outdoor sports one can do in Emeryville.
She was strong. She was kind. She was empathetic and always strategic. She made Emeryville so much of what it is today and certainly gave Emeryville that ‘let’s just do it!’ attitude that propels it ahead of the trends. She made it all worth it for me to volunteer for the City. And she had the pulse of the business community because she was a good listener and cared about their concerns.
This award is so important that it takes two people to present the award.
In 2011, I headed up the Vision Awards Committee for the Chamber to celebrate its 25th Anniversary and honor the pioneers and innovators in Emeryville. We determined the designee for the Joseph S. Emery Lifetime Achievement Award – Nora Davis. Here are some of my notes I prepared for the two presenting the award to Nora, Emeryville’s past redevelopment director Kofi Bonner, along with John Gooding, representing the Chamber and business community.
“We have now come to the last but very important Vision Award. The Joseph S. Emery Lifetime Achievement Award. And it goes to a woman who is so close to the hearts of everyone in this room. She was first elected to Council in 1987. She is currently Mayor of Emeryville – Nora Davis!
“Nora Davis has been a strong and consistent leader on the City Council and a voice of reason and stability during debates on critical issues. She has never lost sight of Emeryville’s heritage as a city that was founded as a center of commerce and business and has consistently advanced those principals during Council and Committee deliberations. Always top of mind for her is that a sound private sector economy is essential for the City to be able to provide the high quality of services the residents, business and visitors have come to expect. As a resident of Emeryville for over 30 years, Nora is on numerous committees in the city – always supportive of volunteers involved in making Emeryville a wonderful place to live and work.
“Lucky for Emeryville, Nora had former retail management experience which helped strengthen Emeryville’s economy through business attraction and retention, and keeping business costs low. Her emeritus status on the Emery Education Foundation reflects her involvement and support for our teachers, young students and their families. John Gooding, one of the presenters that evening, had a great story about driving his mom around Emeryville and pointing out the mayor who had parked her car on the side of the road and was picking up trash under the freeway.
“It is our pleasure to award to you, Nora, the Joseph S. Emery Lifetime Achievement Award. Thank you for all that you have given to the residents and businesses of Emeryville. This award is a perpetual award and will be placed at City Hall.”
RIP Nora! I know all of Emeryville already misses you! You will always be in our hearts. All our love from SF on the Bay!
