Stephen Davenport, BS 54, MBA 55, a devoted supporter of Berkeley and Haas, died Jan. 9. He was 85.
Davenport spent his career in life insurance, building a leading agency from scratch, training and managing hundreds of successful professionals (many Berkeley alumni), and helping his cherished clients. He served on numerous community boards, including WellPoint Health Networks, John Muir Hospital, and Alta Bates.
With his wife, Virginia, Davenport regularly supported the Haas Fund, the Center for Social Sector Leadership (CSSL), and Boost. He was CSSL’s founding board chair and, says Nora Silver, the Center’s founder and faculty director, helped lead CSSL to its No. 2 U.S. News & World Report ranking for nonprofit studies. Davenport served on the Cal Business Alumni Board and was an avid supporter of the Berkeley Board Fellows program, which places Berkeley graduate students on local nonprofit boards.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; sons, Rick and David; and five grandchildren.