Obituary of Patricia Davis

Davis, Patricia Ann “Pat”
January 15, 1936 – July 2, 2026

Pat Davis, age 90, of Waterloo, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2026, after living a full life being a pioneer for women’s leadership.  She loved as she lived with a clear eye for integrity and truthfulness.

She is survived by cousin Tim (Tammy) Marles, Windsor; and her adopted family of Henry and Diane Stronks and their sons and daughters-Anna and Matt Harris (Ethan, Cassia, Zachary); Derek and Jennifer Stronks (Caleb, Rowan, Rayah, Jacob); Helena Stronks and Jenna MacLeod (Grayson Davis); Gerard and Jackie Stronks (Kendall, Finlay) as well as a host of dear friends.

Pat was predeceased by her parents, George and Cecilia Lillian Davis and her partner Anne Ashcroft.

Pat grew up in Windsor, ON and was active in sports throughout high school and university.  She pursued her love of sports by receiving a Master of Education at the University of North Carolina; Bachelor of Physical & Health Education at the University of Toronto and received her Type A Certificate from the Ontario Teacher’s College.

In 1957 Pat began her teaching career in Windsor as a Physical & Health Education teacher.  From 1967 until she retired in 1994 she was the Director of Women’s Athletics at the University of Waterloo.  Her love of organization and her drive for justice to fund women’s athletics changed the way monies were allocated across the country.  She organized provincial and national programs for women’s sport particularly in volleyball.  She was inducted in 1994 into the University Of Waterloo Athletics Hall of Fame (builder) as well in 2019 into the Ontario Volleyball Hall of Fame (builder).

Her mother purchased a mile of lakefront on East Moore Lake when Pat was a young girl.  She spent almost 80 years going to the lake every summer.  She built a cabin with her Dad and subsequently built a cottage and kitchen that was used as a girls’ camp in the mid to late 1960’s.   She loved nature and always said that the trees and the water and rocks grounded her. 

Many of her friends benefitted from time at the “cottage” and for many of the East Moore Lake community & neighbourhood, it can be said that we are there because of her.

Every summer, Pat enjoyed getting together with her cottage friends particularly for golf.  Golf was a favourite activity and even when her eyesight became dim, her friends knew the drives didn’t go far but they would be straight. 

Pat also volunteered her time with Zonta, a global organization of professionals and executives working to advance the status of women through service and advocacy.  For years, she loved to help organize the Betty Thomas Golf Classic through the Kitchener-Waterloo chapter.

She also loved her dogs.  Running a kennel and raising puppies gave her great joy.  She pursued active training with her German Shepherds and went to meets and competitions with them.

Pat was a character.  She loved to tell stories and used those stories to teach lessons.  She was a teacher at heart.  She coached, she mentored and she listened but you had to be prepared for the truth as well.  Sometimes that truth came out unvarnished and seemingly harsh.  She was also stubborn and at the end of her life did not want to leave her last home at Waterloo Heights.  Wherever she went, she made new friends and used her critical analysis to help those whom she perceived needed helping.

We are so grateful to Waterloo Heights and their administration/staff, Ontario Health at Home, Closing the Gap, Promyse Home Care and the Palliative Team at both St. Mary’s and Freeport for their unbelievable care and concern. We also thank her friends that came to visit regularly and even stayed overnight.   She passed away peacefully and in no pain.

A celebration of life will take place at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S, Waterloo, in the chapel of the funeral home on Friday July 24, 2026 at 11 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. and a reception to follow in the funeral home’s Fireside Reception Room.  Private family interment to take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, condolences for the family or donations to St George’s Church (New Hamburg) Women’s Sport Initiative Fund – University of Waterloo, Click HERE or Woodland Christian High School may be arranged through the funeral home at 519-745-8445 or at www.erbgood.com.