By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
Everywhere you turned, she was there. If there was a fight for what’s right, she was there. If there was an endeavor that needed leadership, she was there. Whether it was for local students of District 205 or those far away in underdeveloped nations still fighting polio, she was there.
Surrounded by family and loved ones, Marta Davy passed away after a long fight against a brain tumor on Sunday, April 17. She was just 58 years old.
Beloved wife of Tom; loving mother of Daniel (Annie), Sarah (Gregory) Pappas and James; cherished grandmother of Lillian and Jack Davy and Teddy Pappas; dear daughter of the late Lester and Martha Deason; sister of Debbie (Jeff) Stair and the late David Deason; aunt of Ben Stair and Lauren Hughes.
Marta was Past President and Board member for 12 years of the Elmhurst Public School District #205, Board member of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Past President of the Rotary Club of Elmhurst, co-founder of 100+ Women Who Care and was active at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church and the development of their PADS program. In 2015, she was the recipient of the Philanthropic Leadership Award from the West Suburban Philanthropic Network Leadership Award.
Memorial Visitation will be held at Ahlgrim Funeral Home, 567 S. Spring Rd., on Friday, April 22, 2016, from 3-8 p.m. A Memorial Celebration will take place on Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, 367 S. Spring Rd., with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, Memorials will be appreciated for the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
Involved with Elmhurst District 205 Board of Education for about 12 years, Marta played a big part in passing the referendum to support the District just after York High School was rebuilt. She served as Board president for two years, worked with four superintendents, assisting in the hiring of three of them. Her parents, who were schoolteachers, were pleased when she was chosen to serve on a Governor’s task force to rewrite school code.
As a member of Elmhurst Rotary Club for more than 15 years, she showed unparalleled commitment to its many efforts. Marta worked on a task force to tackle the growing threat of heroin use in Elmhurst schools by bringing together teachers, law enforcement officers and marketing experts to spread the word.
Also through the Rotary Club, she worked on a diabetes pilot program to increase the availability of healthy food to those in need. Marta helped spread the word when Rotary International led the fight against polio with the goal of eradicating it throughout the world.
Her interest in fighting hunger led her to serve on the Board of the Northern Illinois Food Bank and to help develop the PADS program at Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, where she was also very active.
In 2015, she was the recipient of the Philanthropic Leadership Award from the West Suburban Philanthropic Network Leadership Award, for knowing how to leverage resources and make a lasting difference.
When Davy learned about the Naperville chapter of 100+ Women Who Care—100 women who give $100 four times per year with pooled funds donated to local nonprofits—she decided Elmhurst needed a chapter. In 2013, along with five others, she launched the Elmhurst 100+ Women Who Care, which currently has 163 members. Their first donation was $12,000 to Northern Illinois Food Bank’s BackPack Program. She also helped launch two more Women Who Care groups.
One of Marta’s co-founders of the 100+ Women Who Care group was Jean Carlquist.
“Marta will be missed,” she said. “She was a dear friend to many, and truly a difference maker. She inspired others to take action. 100+ Women was one of several local organizations where Marta was engaged and influential. Her leadership, combined with her deep concern for others, was a force in the founding and growth of 100+ Elmhurst Women Who Care.”
Since its inception, the Elmhurst chapter has raised more than $140,000 for various local area not-for-profit organizations.
On a personal note, Carlquist added: “Marta and her family have been an example of strength and love, truly an inspiration for us all.”
