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MARYON DAVIES LEWIS

1930-2023

Maryon Davies Lewis, whose childhood nickname was “Brownie,” and later “Black Cloud,” or simply “Stormy,” died on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at Davies Campus formerly named for Ralph K. Davies, her father. She was 93.

Maryon Davies Lewis (MDL) was passionate about the art of giving and will be remembered with her chin up, ready to take on the world’s problems as well as her own. Although raised in Woodside, California, Maryon traversed the world stage: going to war-torn Bosnia as a board member of nonprofit Global Impact, travelling to Africa with World Wildlife and to Ireland with the Irish American Foundation.

Maryon commanded any room she entered with her acerbic wit and inimitable five-inch heels. As a child, Maryon hid underneath a desk and listened to discussions between then President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and her father, Ralph K. Davies who was Deputy Petroleum Administrator for War, about the matter at hand, supplying American oil through a pipeline to Europe during WWII. Maryon’s love for politics grew over the years, from campaigning for Eisenhower in 1952 to supporting many Democratic candidates afterwards.

Maryon received her hazel green eyes from her mother, Louise, who had the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall named after her. Maryon financially supported the concerts at Davies Hall to the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico to the Music in the Schools program for SF public schools.

Maryon’s heyday was the DiFi era in San Francisco, when Dianne Feinstein was mayor, between 1978 and 1988, the Willie Brown years (1996- 2004) into the Gavin Newsom years (2004- 2011.) Besides the politicians, Maryon’s friends included many writers of the 60’s and 70’s: Barnaby Conrad, Peter Matthiessen, Herb Gold, Blair Fuller, Alastair Cooke… ending with the Three Wise Men of San Francisco: Herb Caen, Wilkes Bashford and the Nonesuch, Willie Brown.

Maryon Davies Lewis is succeeded by her daughter, Lucy Louise Lewis, and her son, Ralph Davies Lewis and four grandchildren: Ian Dreyer, Elena Dreyer, Milo Lewis and Atherton Lewis. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the San Francisco Symphony. The date for Maryon Davies Lewis’ Celebration of Life will be announced soon.