Michael Davis

Michael Judson Davis passed peacefully during the early evening hours of May 6, 2015, in the wake of a beautiful thunder storm, reminiscent of his brief bout with cancer. With the sound of rain and the singing of the springtime birds, Michael took a final easy breath and departed. He was 70 years old.
Born June 5, 1944, in Rochester, NY, to Emanuel David Davis and Berdye Judson Davis, he grew up on Long Island playing sports and enjoying music. He was a curious child, always wanting people to have a “better time than they expected.” Upon graduating from Great Neck North H.S. in 1962, he spent a summer in Paris and then entered Lafayette College, in Easton, PA, where he studied philosophy and comparative religion. He also spent his junior year in Paris, and his experiences abroad profoundly impacted his world view.
Michael married Judy Krassner in 1969, and they had their first son in 1970 while practicing yoga and meditation on an ashram in upstate New York. In 1971, they moved to San Francisco, where they became “real” hippies, and they had their second son in 1973. In 1975, they moved to Mariposa, near Yosemite, where they built a home and had their third son in 1976. Not long afterwards, they landed in Boulder, CO.
Later, Michael married Anita Hoth, and in 1983, they had a son, Michael’s fourth. Michael also began a 34-year career as a psychotherapist in 1981. His work was holistic, involving many models, and he helped countless individuals, families and organizations to better understand and communicate with each other. He also spent his entire career as the staff counselor for the Gifted Development Center.
After becoming a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and Workshop Presenter, Michael helped to “heal the planet one relationship at a time.” He married Susan McCallum in 1996 and helped to raise her daughter, his fifth child.
Michael and Susan created a relationship that “sang on key” and throughout their journey, they continually strove to integrate Imago practices into their own dance and into the workshops that they co-taught. They split time between their mountain home in Tabernash, CO, which served as a grand retreat for scores of family and friends, and the Front Range, until shortly before his passing.
A metaphor close to Michael’s heart was life as a canoe trip, and he should have known, having taken over 50 epic river trips with family and friends. In life, we all hit rapids and even capsize. But it’s about getting back in the boat and paddling downstream, together.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Robert Judson Davis. He is survived by his wife, Susan McCallum, four sons, Shakti, Rudi, Joe (Rachelle) and Josh (Sharon) Davis, daughter Ashley Watkins, and seven grandchildren: Zylan, Bjorn-Eva, Brando, Beau, Esa, Chloe and Camden. He will be greatly missed.
A memorial service to celebrate Michael’s life will be held Wednesday, June 17, 4-7pm at the Community United Church of Christ, 2650 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder, CO 80305. All are welcome to come and share their memories of Michael.