Megan Jeannette Davey (BSc ’89), a graduate of the Honours Biology Program at York University, died Aug. 10 in London, Ontario.
Professor Davey had a special connection to the University that went beyond her studies. She was the daughter of York Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus Ken Davey, a long-time and very active York faculty member and administrator.
Megan Davey
At the time of her death, Prof. Megan Davey was a rising star in Canadian research. After graduating from York University, she completed a doctorate in the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Toronto and a postdoctoral fellowship in research at Rockefeller University in New York City.
Following her recruitment to Western University in 2004, Prof. Davey established a research program focused on the mechanisms controlling DNA replication supported by funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council. She was the recipient of prestigious salary awards from national funding agencies including a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, which she declined in favour of a Research Scientist Award from the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC). As the top-ranked candidate in the NCIC competition, Davey was awarded the Harold Johns Award. She was also an associate professor and earned a reputation as an excellent and caring teacher and mentor.
Her father, Professor Ken Davey, served York University as chair of the Department of Biology. He was also the dean of the Faculty of Pure & Applied Science and was vice-president academic. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a member of the Order of Canada.
There will be a celebration of Prof. Megan Davey’s life on Friday, Sept. 21, at 3pm, in the Founders Assembly Hall, 152 Founders College. Her family invites all to attend the service to celebrate her life as a developing young scientist, an exceptional and caring professor and more.
Her family requests that anyone wishing to recognize the life of Prof. Megan Davey can make a donation to the Maud L. Menten Memorial Lecture Series for which she was the enthusiastic coordinator.
For details of how to donate and any other questions, contact Ron Pearlman, University Professor Emeritus, at ronp@yorku.ca, or by calling 416-736-5241.