Joal LeRoy Davis, age 80, left this world on April 8, 2017. He bravely struggled with PTSD, clinical depression, and major anxiety for almost 20 years. He died at his home in Leon Springs, TX. He is survived by Shirley Mazotas Davis, his wife of 4l years, and his cat, Jake.
Born in Portland, OR on June 26,1936 to the late Alice Davis and Joseph L. Davis, Joal had an aptitude for mathematics and worked his way through Multnoma College, a junior engineering college in Portland, where he graduated as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. During that time, he served his country as a member of the Oregon National Guard. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, reporting by July 3, 1956. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Science and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1960. Joal’s primary specialty in Infantry assignments was in intelligence. He resigned his commission as a first lieutenant in April 1963; however, he then maintained his status as a Reserve commissioned officer. He continued to serve his country in that capacity until April 1965.
As befitting a cadet whose primary intellectual interest was mathematics, Joal was also an aficionado of classical music. With his spread of interests and personal involvement in those interests, he was truly a Renaissance man, but he also was an individual who was more than willing to take his time and effort to ensure that those of us who sought his assistance in understanding mathematical issues or who had questions about classical music would have our issues met or our listening enjoyment enhanced. There were many classmates of his at West Point who were introduced to the richness—as well as the mathematical nature—of music, both modern as well as classical. Joal’s leadership abilities and potential were recognized by his selection as a cadet corporal his junior (cow) year and cadet lieutenant his First Class year. His interests at West Point were broad in nature, extending to involvement in the German Club, serving as a member of the Class Committee, and—befitting his love of music—participating in the Hi-Fi Club.
Joal was not only responsible for introducing his many roommates over the four years at West Point to the fine points of classical music and what to be aware of in the musical presentation, but his first blind date with Shirley, his future wife and helpmate, was to the Boston Symphony. This was the manner in which Joal ensured that the finer points were always subtle, never heavy handed. This “gentle” approach with classical music was echoed in his methods in assisting classmates in his cadet company, F-2, in understanding and working their way through the rather grueling mathematics courses of plebe and yearling years, as well as engineering courses his senior (First Class) year.
His approach to helping others understand and appreciate the finer points of subjects ranging from language, mathematics, and music to history and literature ensured that many of his classmates will remember and appreciate Joal.
Following his resignation from active duty in 1963, Joal was employed as a mechanical engineer for Tektronics, a technology company in Beaverton, OR, until December 1975. Joal then moved to San Antonio, TX to work as a mechanical design engineer for Datapoint Corporation, a computer manufacturer. Joal also reconnected with the love of his life, Shirley Ann Mazotas. Shirley and Joal married at Saint Luke’s Catholic Church in San Antonio on May 8, 1976.
Joal left Datapoint to accept a job as a senior research engineer at Southwest Research Institute, where he remained until his retirement in 1996.
Joal’s later years were plagued by cancer twice (2012 and 2016), and he won both times. He also required a cardioverter defibrillator in the 2007 time frame. He never lost his sense of humor and affection for those around him. He died on April 8, 2017 in Leon Springs, TX and was buried with military honors at Mission Burial Park in northern San Antonio.
Joal was indeed a Renaissance man with an incredible intellect that he was willing to share with others. Mathematics, history and English literature made up his reading library, all three areas indicative of an intellect that appreciated complexity. A high school track star and baseball player, he was a sports enthusiast, particularly the San Antonio Spurs and the Boston Red Sox. Classical music was his passion, as were chess and ice cream. He was a staunch Democrat. Joal was described by those closest to him as a kind, quiet, pensive, “gentle” man, and gentleman but one with an off-beat, subtle, sense of humor. Joal loved his cats, his former pets: Fuzzy, Samantha, Pesky, Daphne, and Lulu; as well as his current companion, Jake. But most of all, he loved his wife, Shirley. Joal and Shirley spent 41 years together until his death parted them physically.
“Well Done, Joal. Be Thou at Peace.”
— Shirley Mazotas Davis, wife and Classmates and Companymates