Dear EPSS,

We write with the sad news that former EPSS professor Jon Davidson passed away earlier today. Jon was a valued member of the faculty from 1988-2000. He moved on to Durham University in the UK to take on duties as Head of Department, but shortly thereafter received a cancer diagnosis and battled stoically for years. He is survived by his wife Donna and children Max and Daisy, all of whom have been welcome return visitors to the department over the years.

Jon was a passionate and excellent teacher in courses that included ESS 1, igneous petrology and numerous field trip seminars across the globe. He was recognized by UCLA via the prestigious Luckman Teaching Award in 1994. With EPSS colleagues Paul Davis and Ted Reed, he published the highly regarded introductory geology textbook “Exploring Earth". He served as vice-chair from 1992-1994 and energetically worked to improve all corners of the department. Jon was a highly respected researcher who published widely on igneous petrology, geochemistry and volcanology. Just this year he was elected AGU fellow, in recognition of his influential research on the geochemistry of magmatic systems.

Please join us in remembering our former colleague and friend.

Sincerely,
Craig Manning and Mark Harrison

Jon sampling volcanic rocks and some local brew

https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/directory/staff/?mode=staff&id=368