Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/20/23 – Obituary Courtesy of Buzz Lynn
It is with tremendous sadness that our Philly lacrosse friend and fellow official Red Davidson peacefully passed away on Tuesday morning, August 1st from pancreatic cancer. He was 71 years old.
Red was raised in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1971. In his early years and throughout High School, he developed a lifelong passion for sports He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University and was a four-year starter for the Penn State ice hockey team. Red was a defenseman. He graduated in 1975 but went back regularly to Happy Valley to play in the alumni Hockey Games. In 1996, he was an inductee into the Penn State Hockey Hall of Fame. Red’s Hockey stick hung behind the bar at the Rathskeller. It was displayed there until a few years ago when the “Ratt” was sold.
Throughout his life, he continued his passion for sports transitioning from a player, to refereeing Football and Lacrosse at both the high school and collegiate level. Red was recruited by Noel Turner and Charlie Philips to referee lacrosse. Red was an original member of NILOA and District III. The Eastern College Athletic Conference recognized his work by inducting him into the ECAC Hall of Fame as an official for football. He officiated both sports for over 45 years.
During Red’s entire career officiating, he showed a passion for our sport and always brought a smile and a laugh to every pre-game. Traveling to games with Red was always an experience, we had to stop a few times on the way, so he could drop off meat and seafood orders to friends and even coaches. The post games with Red were also an adventure, He knew every bar or beer distributor from Maryland to Massachusetts. If Red was on your schedule you knew you would have a good time afterwards.
Red had compassion and empathy toward others and was always there to help out. Red was also an excellent cook, His banquets at the Conshohocken Bocce club were legendary. Red was an avid golfer and a long-time member of the Edgmont Country Club..
As you can see, I could go on and on with stories about Red, almost everyone of us has a Red story. He was truly one of a kind.
In keeping with Red’s wishes, there will not be a formal service and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made in Red’s name to the: Davidson Family Men’s Ice Hockey Scholarship in Intercollegiate Athletics at The Pennsylvania State University.
Donations are accepted online through raise.psu.edu/RedDavidson.
If you prefer to mail a check, please address it to:
Penn State Donor and Member Services
Attn: Red Davidson
2583 Gateway Drive, Ste 130
State College, PA 16801
May our Loyal Friend Rest in Peace, We are all better Men for knowing Red.
