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Our Friend Davo
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hen Mark “Davo” Davenport first arrived at Camp Dudley in 1972, he was among the few young men to come to Camp for the first time as a Junior Leader, but despite the late start to his Dudley career, it was the start of a deep, personal connection that would last over 50 years and change his life as well as the lives of the countless “other fellows” he would come into contact with during those decades. As Davo was fond of recounting, it didn’t take long for him to realize that this was a place that he wanted to dedicate his life to, and he immediately started asking the Director at the time, Rollie “Stich” Stichweh, and others, how he could make a career out of working for Camp Dudley. Fortunately for all of us, he made it happen, and he made Dudley and Kiniya better places with his passion for helping young people and his commitment to this institution. It may sound a bit cliché, but it is absolutely true that Davo made meaningful and authentic connections with everyone he knew. Over the past few months, every attempt to remember Davo that has been relayed to Camp has been personal, heartfelt, and filled with a sense of joy for having had the chance to know him. And while no single tribute can capture the richness and depth of his influence on our Camps and its people, let’s celebrate and honor our beloved friend. From the moment he arrived at Camp Dudley, Davo’s larger-than-life energy and enthusiasm filled the air. His first cabin leader assignment in Princeton Lodge in 1973 offered a handful of campers a unique look at his sense of humor and humility. Through the mid and late 1970s, his campers and fellow leaders witnessed his creativity, compassion, and seemingly inexhaustible energy. His teams experienced the “Davo Style” of Dudley coaching and always had an exciting mix of rugby drills from his days at the University of Maine. Campers of this era saw Davo begin to spread his wings on the Witherbee stage long before he appeared on the big screen and learned to ... “Do the Dance.” It was 1983 when Davo moved from the cabin into his staff role; he continued to be an ever-present personality all around Camp. That year, Davo’s farreaching knowledge and influence can be seen in a small note on the title page of The Last Whistle. It reads “Davo, Bolster, and Beaner - Comments.” This credit reminds us of his quick wit and always having a oneliner at the ready. By this time, Davo had also started writing and directing for the stage. This is a passion Camp would benefit from for many years. After working to perfect his craft on the West Coast, Davo returned to the Witherbee Staff from 1994 through 1998, where he inspired us to try new things, find our voices, and tell a story with passion and humor. At Kiniya, The Wolves was written and directed by Davo in 2018 to celebrate
the opening of Mimi’s Lodge. That play was recreated in 2023 in his honor. (Visit campdudley.org/davo to see the list of productions.) Davo’s wife Cathy, daughter Bridget, and granddaughter Carmel (named after Davo’s late mother) are his biggest fans. They, along with his loyal companion Biscuit, provided the love and support that allowed Davo to make such a significant impact on so many in the Camp family. Bridget's appearance on the Dudley stage at a young age may have even laid the foundation for her becoming a staff member at Dudley and at Kiniya in later years. Being the father of Bridget, Davo’s passion for a girls’ camp was greater than most, and his role on the Girls Committee in bringing Kiniya into the Dudley Family in its formative years was instrumental. Watching Davo return to Kiniya to direct a show, enjoy a meal, or experience a hymn sing made it clear that his passion for supporting future Leaders was equally shared with Kiniya’s campers and staff. One of Davo’s most valuable gifts to Camp has been his extraordinary dedication to connecting with alums. His outstanding recall of names and faces helped everyone connect with Camp's history and their place in it. Talking with Davo about the “old days” was like having instant access to the Last Whistles. This gift, as some called it, was valued by Willie Schmidt, Wheaton Griffin, Andy Bisselle, Matt Storey, and Marnie McDonagh in their roles as directors.
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He also served as an important mentor and counselor to a wide range of Dudley and Kiniya leadership, all the way from an Aide taking their first steps in our leadership development program through to chairs of our Board of Trustees. His trusted guidance has helped our cabin leadership deliver amazing experiences to campers in their charge, our board and directors navigate unprecedented institutional challenges, and many individuals through their own personal challenges. A critical member of Camp’s year-round leadership team beginning in 2000, Davo served as Head of Alumni Outreach and Administration, Head of Leadership and Alumni Relations, and Head of Arts. He often served in these roles simultaneously. Many of “Davo’s Leaders” would tell you that his honest feedback, usually delivered with a subtle hint of humor, inspired them to learn and go beyond their perceived limitations. While some would say that Davo’s most important legacy to Camp was his support and connection with alums, others will argue that his contribution to developing a generation of inspiring leaders stands out. Both are true and of equal importance to our community. Even after he retired from full-time service to Camp, alumni from many eras would call the office looking for Davo just to connect with a familiar voice with whom they could share stories and relive some of that Dudley magic. But Davo’s arrival as a full-time member of the year-round team also meant that he would be a full-time, year-round resident in the North Country, and he made an indelible and positive impact on the communities around Camp as well. As a resident of Port Henry, Davo was a dedicated, civic-minded resident who was committed to making life better for his neighbors. Davo served communities around Westport,
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Port Henry, and Moriah as an elected official, coach, referee, and businessman, and he deepened the ties between Dudley and local residents. Davo’s impact on the Dudley and Kiniya community is deep and wide, and his legacy will last for generations to come. It’s a testament to his outsized yet down-to-earth personality, amazing ability to relate to so many people from many different walks of life, and his incredible and consistent dedication to our community. Said Matt Storey, “He gave so much to so many and was perhaps the most loyal person I’ve ever met. That is why he was, and will continue to be, a true Dudley legend. I am so sad to lose such a dear friend, but I am left feeling lucky that he was a part of our lives and that we all had the chance to learn from him and laugh with him. He made us all better people and Camp Dudley and Camp Kiniya better places.”
The Davenport Leadership Fund In celebration of Davo’s 50 years of service to Camp and in recognition of his inspiring leadership of young men and women, we are pleased to announce that The Davenport Leadership Fund has been created as part of the Camp Dudley Foundation. Each year this fund will be used to support development and enrichment activities for Dudley and Kiniya Leaders, allowing Davo’s vision to continue for generations to come. While he might not suggest it, we think he would certainly love seeing the funds being put to good use on the leaders of the future. Those wishing to support this effort should make a gift to Camp and note it for the Davenport Leadership Fund or contact Dave Langston or Dawn Gay in the Camp office. You can also visit campdudley.org/davo for more information.
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