Stalwart Sailor of the Golden Orange
Davis Taylor Pillsbury (1938-2021) passed away April 27 at the age of 82 surrounded by loved ones in his home overlooking the Newport Beach marina where his beloved CAL40 Ralphie is berthed.
A fourth generation Californian and the only child of Jeanne Casenave and Charles Taylor Pillsbury, Davis grew up in Hollister and Beverly Hills. Davis attended several schools including Loyola High School, Beverly Hills Catholic and Orme School in Arizona. Upon graduating from high school, Davis attended Menlo College, CU Boulder & UCLA. He proudly served in the Marine Corps Reserve.
In 1963 he married Patricia Ann FitzPatrick in the Beverly Hills Catholic Church. They raised four children in San Marino where he enjoyed building homecoming floats and coaching Little League teams.
Davis actively campaigned a variety of sailboats in offshore races including the Transpacific Honolulu (5 times), Newport to Cabo San Lucas (8 times) and countless regattas spanning from San Francisco to Manzanillo. Davis took first in class in the 2005 Transpac (his last), 2008 Ensenada race and the 1995 Big Boat Series. He was an honorary lifetime member of the St. Francis Yacht Club, former Commodore of the Isthmus Yacht Club and a long time member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club among others.
Davis was a descendent of Boston Globe Publisher, Gen. Charles Henry Taylor. He took pride in his former role as a Board Member of The Boston Globe. Davis enjoyed his profession as a long-time investment counselor with Robert Bender & Associates of Pasadena, California.
Davis is survived by his loving companion of 11 years, Jan Brugh Smolik of Alma, Nebraska and his four loving children and their spouses; Taylor and Jill Pillsbury of Laguna Beach, Patrick and Andra Pillsbury of Alameda, Peter and Jackie Pillsbury of Laguna Beach and Sarah and Jason Peter of Lincoln, NE and his ten grandchildren Jack, Audrey, Charlie, McKinley, Samantha, Andie, Francis, Elias Pillsbury, Poppy and Claudette Peter.
Davis knew how to make everyone laugh and had an incredible zest for traveling and living life to its fullest while inspiring others he met along the way. Davis believed he could learn something from every person on the planet and that everyone should be treated kindly.
He will be missed and remembered by all that knew him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Francis Sailing Foundation in his honor www.stfsf.org
