Harold (Hal) Davis

Harold (Hal) Davis, 84, of Los Alamos, NM passed away on July 18, 2025 with his wife, son, and daughter at his side. Hal will be remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather, and an active member of his community.

Born on June 30, 1941 in Chicago, Illinois, Hal had a humble upbringing. He loved playing baseball with his friends and told stories of sneaking into Chicago Bears football games as a youngster. He was a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and was overjoyed that he lived to see them win the World Series in his lifetime.

Hal was the first in his family to graduate from college. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne, followed by a PhD in Physics from the University of California, San Diego.

It was in San Diego that he was set up on a blind date with Anne Kimball, a free-spirited teacher from the Bishop’s School for Girls, and from then on, he only had eyes for her. Hal and Anne eloped to San Francisco in December, 1966.

Together Hal and Anne built a life together that spanned nearly 59 years of marriage. In 1981, they moved their family to Los Alamos when Hal accepted a job in the Physics department at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was a talented and well-respected experimental researcher working with accelerators and plasmas for over two decades. Hal and Anne loved raising their two children in the mountains of northern NM, and Hal especially loved hiking, camping and skiing with his family.

It was in his retirement that Hal truly embraced life. His passion for photography blossomed, and he traveled to numerous countries, capturing cultures and people through his photography. Hal was a member of the Los Alamos Photography Club, and he volunteered at the Manhattan Project National Monument and more recently the Los Alamos History Museum. He was active for many years on the Board of the Los Alamos Concert Association.

Hal was often seen out walking, or swimming at the Aquatic Center. The thing he enjoyed most, though, was spending time with his family. He was the best “Papa” to his two grandchildren, showering them with endless love and attention.

Hal was preceded in death by his father, Irving Davis, his mother, Mildred Davis, and his sister Esther Markowitz. He is survived by his wife, Anne Davis, his son Scott Davis (Alison), his daughter Laura Loy (Bob), and his grandchildren Kaya Loy and Grayson Davis.

A Celebration of Life will be held August 10 at 2:00pm at Fuller Lodge. All who knew Hal and his family are invited to come and share a story about him. Donations may be made to the Los Alamos Historical Society’s Oppenheimer House Preservation fund at https://losalamoshistory.networkforgood.com/projects/22122-everyday-giving.

Please visit www.riverafamilyfuneralhome.com to leave condolences, stories, and photos for the Davis family to cherish.