Hamilton C. Davis Jr., investment firm partner, dies

March 06--Hamilton C. "Chace" Davis Jr., a partner in the Baltimore investment firm of Chapin Davis Inc., died March 1 at the Broadmead retirement community in Cockeysville from complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 90.

He was born in Baltimore and raised on 40th Street in Roland Park, the son of Hamilton C. Davis, president of F. A. Davis & Sons Inc., a wholesale tobacco distributing business, and Georgia L. Dove Davis, a homemaker.

Mr. Davis, who was known as "Chace," graduated from Friends School in 1945. He served in the Navy for a year before entering Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. He obtained a bachelor's degree in 1950.

He worked briefly as an admissions assistant at Dickinson, then returned to Baltimore and joined the F.A. Davis family-owned business.

In 1965 he joined Bedford Chapin, who had founded a Baltimore investment firm in 1952, and later became a partner. The company became known as Chapin Davis Inc.

He retired in 1997.

In 1956, the longtime Guilford resident was co-founder with Norman Scribner of what became known as the Baltimore Choral Arts Society. Family members said one of the society's earliest concerts featured famed African-American lyric soprano Adele Addision.

Mr. Davis served on the board of Dickinson College and chaired the board of Baltimore's City Life Museums. He had also been director of the Baltimore Better Air Coalition and a member of the board of the Baltimore City Jail.

He was interested in the restoration and revitalization of Bolton Hill, where he lived from 1957 to 1969. He also maintained an interest in Baltimore gardens, city architecture and local art museums and galleries. He was also an avid gardener.

Mr. Davis later lived at Cross Keys before moving to Broadmead eight years ago.

Services are private.

Mr. Davis is survived by his wife of 61 years, the former Helen Shaw; a son, Hamilton C. Davis III of Charlotte, N.C.; three daughters, Katherine D. Hope of Parkton, Martha Socolar of Guilford and Lisa D. Correll of New York City; a brother, John L. Davis of Lutherville, a sister, Suzanne D. Emory of Glen Arm; and 12 grandchildren.

-- Frederick N. Rasmussen

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