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Julian Davies

January 09, 1932 - February 02, 2025

Text:

Obituary For Julian Davies

Julian Davies, 93, died peacefully and surrounded by family on February 2, 2025 near Vancouver, Canada. He is preceded in death by his wife Dorothy, sister Janette Hunter, grandson Michael Joyce, granddaughter-in-law Rachel Adair, and parents Lilian and Norman Davies. He is survived by his children Victoria Davies (James Joyce), Robin Davies, Jeremy (Peg) Davies, his grandchildren Erin Joyce, Jesse Collins-Davies, Madeleine Davies, Shannon Coyne, Isabel Davies, Maya Davies, and Valentina DiNovella, and his great-grandchildren Ethan and Alexander Coyne.

Born January 9, 1932 in Neath, Wales, Julian excelled in the sciences from an early age. In high school, he received a scholarship to study chemistry at the University of Nottingham, where he went on to earn his PhD. In 1956, he became a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University in New York City. While at a party at International House, he was introduced to Dorothy “Dottie” Olney. Immediately smitten, Julian boldly offered to cook her a “real Welsh meal” for their first date, which unbelievably worked for him. Over the next several months, he wooed her with more tried and true methods of love letters and trips to the theater.

In December of 1957, they married in Dottie’s hometown of Waltham, Massachusetts. They remained deeply devoted to one another for the next 60 years, largely inseparable as they worked and traveled around the world, forging life-lasting friendships wherever they went. Julian and Dottie’s romance remained remarkable and aspirational until and beyond Dottie’s death in 2017. More admirable still was the mutual respect they held for one another, which extended into all aspects of their lives and served as the foundation of their family.

Julian and Dottie’s first child Victoria was born in 1958, while Julian was completing his second postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Their second child, Robin, was born in 1961 while Julian was lecturing at the Manchester College of Science and Technology in England. Soon thereafter, Julian shifted his focus to microbiology and, while working at the Harvard Medical School in 1964, he and Dottie had their third child, Jeremy.

Julian’s advancements in the field of microbiology brought him international renown: Twice, he worked at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, first as a postdoctoral fellow in 1965 and again as the Director of Microbial Engineering in 1985. From 1974-75, he and his family spent a sabbatical year in Geneva Switzerland, where he later returned to serve as the Scientific Director of company Biogen at the dawn of biotechnology. For his work in the sciences, he was inducted as a fellow into the Royal Society of London, the Royal Society of Canada, and as an International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences. His long term academic and professional homes were at the UW - Madison, where he worked as a professor in the Biochemistry Department, and at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Julian was an integral part of the UBC science community as head of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the Life Sciences Institute. His work has been published over 700 times. To quote Nature Biotech Journal, “Julian Davies is a biotech vanguardist.”

A friend and colleague once said Julian was never “happier than when he’s in a laboratory looking at a Petri dish with bacteria growing on it and talking with some student.” His family can attest to both his passion for people and scientific research, as exemplified as his many “official” retirements that never seemed to last long before he was back in the lab. While microbes and DNA sequencing were never (if ever) far from his mind, Julian met life’s other adventures with similar joie de vivre and enthusiasm. He loved many things, particularly time with family. Few things ignited him more than a rollicking debate with loved ones, especially over good food and wine (and even more so when he knew he could argue his kids and grandchildren under the table). Though a proud Welshman, he did not consider himself nationalistic unless Wales was playing England at Rugby.

While Julian possessed the sharpest of wits, he was also capable of immense feeling. He expected and hoped for those around him to experience their fullest potentials and would do what he could to help them reach it. He was deeply grieved by the passing of his sister and long term partner in mischief Janette in 2014. As his wife Dottie struggled with vascular dementia at the end of her life, he treated her with the same tenderness and care that had come to define their relationship. Over the past several years, Julian lost many of his most precious faculties to his own battle with dementia. While it was painful to watch parts of his memory slip away, it was also remarkable how, ever the scientist, he continued to greet discoveries new and old with curiosity and wonder.

Julian’s family, friends, and colleagues miss him immensely, but know that he, having chosen to be terramated, will be further immersed into the microbial community he loved so much.

Julian developed a late-in-life passion for trees, marveling at their beauty and the ways they communicate through mycorrhizal networks (i.e. microbes!). In lieu of flowers, we invite you to plant a tree in his honor via this memorial webpage.

A Laying-In Ceremony for Julian will be held on Friday, March 7, 2025, 2:00pm at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship, 1207 Ellsworth St, Bellingham, WA. For those unable to attended in person, you are invited to join a live stream of the service on Zoom.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81094564679?pwd=X32FRgj4JwuWdEMQ7tS6jTN6ciExN5.1

Meeting ID: 810 9456 4679
Passcode: 359811

Following the Laying-In Ceremony, Julian's family invites you to join them for an evening Celebration of Julian's Life at Ponderosa Beer and Books, 1225 Roeder Ave, Suite 101, Bellingham, WA. Please come prepared to share stories, memories, and toasts. Food and drinks will be provided.

Julian loved colorful socks. His family invites to wear a pair in his honor.

Hedd, perffaith hedd.

Live Stream

Services

7 Mar

Laying-In Ceremony

02:00 PM - 04:00 PM

Meeting ID: 810 9456 4679 Passcode: 359811

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship 1207 Ellsworth St Bellingham, WA 98225 Get Directions »
7 Mar

Celebration of Life

05:00 PM - 07:00 PM

Ponderosa Beer and Books 1225 Roeder Ave Bellingham, WA 98225 Get Directions »
by Obituary Assistant

Live Stream

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Condolences

  • March 15, 2025

    Ann Kriselda

    Julian, you motivated me to become a better version of myself. Everytime I felt overwhelmed during my studies, you told me to rise up each time. Thank you for having the opportunity to be your carer for sometime. To Vicky, Jeremy, and Robin, our sincere condolences. With deep gratitude and respect, Ann

  • March 08, 2025

    Barbara Parker

    Extraordinary human being. When in the company of Julian, better known to me as Vicky's Dad, the world was a magical, fun, beautiful place. My memories are fond. Sending love to the entire family ❤️

  • March 08, 2025

    Steve del Cardayre

    Julian, you made the world grander for all those you touched, and it truly feels smaller with your departure. As the Dalai Lama purportedly requested from the hot dog vendor - "Make me one with everything." May you so become. We will miss you! Steve del Cardayre and Lucy Buchan

  • March 07, 2025

    David Kleinschmidt

    Wow, what a wonderful man, we are all blessed to have him be part of our lives. Condolences to all of his family, he will be missed.

  • March 07, 2025

    Ivan Villanueva

  • March 07, 2025

    Manisha and Nirpjit

    Dear Vicky our sincere and heartfelt condolences to you and the family. We are forever going to miss Sir, his generosity, his passion for life, love of science & encouragement to pursue it. We will always have immense respect for dear Dr. Davies and Dottie in our hearts and will always cherish the sweet memories of the time spent with him in the journey of science and life. Again our sincere regards to you and everyone. May God Bless his soul and he rests in peace. Manisha & Nirpjit Dosanjh

  • March 07, 2025

    Dimitra Gennimata

    Just one more trip for you, Julian, to organise all spirits and souls and make, the impossible, possible. Your legacy lives on!

  • March 07, 2025

    Jenny Lu

    On behalf of my mom, Karen: Thank you, Julian, for all the memories, generosity, care and curious experiments at the JED Lab. Starting work at the lab came at a tough time, and became a blessing that allowed me, Jenny, to grow up at UBC and with the lab. I remember fondly many meals with the lab, and being included in dinner talk with the adults (which terrified me as a child, but for which I am so grateful now - how you and Dottie always included me and the other kids and were genuinely interested in what we had to say). Pipettes, bear poop microbes, and I will always remember that "a cookie made without butter is not a real cookie" 🙂 Thank you and rest in peace, Dr. Davies!

  • March 06, 2025

    Peg Davies

    Julian, you lived large in every sense of the word! I will miss your playful antics, zest for life and your big generous heart.

  • March 06, 2025

    Jacyn Mae Refamonte

    Hi Julian! I miss you so much and all our adventures in UBC! Our daily walks in the woods, feeding the birds, planting tomatoes and many more. Thank you for all the wisdom and teachings you are an amazing man. — Jacyn

  • March 06, 2025

    David Cannon

    Dear Vicky, Robin and Jeremy, Such a sad time for you all. Julian was a wonderful man, very caring, generous and welcomed everyone with open arms. He will be missed by all. Julian was a force of nature. Sending you all my love David Cannon

  • March 05, 2025

    Kenji Ueda

    Julian, you were a man of curiosity and enthusiasm, who fascinated and inspired so many people all over the world. With deep respect and gratitude.

  • March 03, 2025

    Jeremy

    Miss you dad! Say hi to mom for me.

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5706 4th Ave., Ferndale, WA 98248

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affordable funeral homes WA

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