Henry Davis, owned travel industry business, dies

As a 20-something Army soldier in 1944, Henry Davis ripped an intestine on his Atlantic crossing. The injury left him with a painful ulcer that plagued him the rest of his life.

His first wife, Audrey, who died in 1983, had multiple sclerosis. Davis nursed her for many years. His second wife, who died in 1998, had Parkinson's disease. He nursed her, too.

On Sept. 2, Henry Davis, who for more than 20 years ran a Nassau County-based business that promoted the travel industry, died of heart illness at Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Commack. He was 88.

Fred Davis, 56, of Medfield, Mass., always was touched by how graciously his father accepted life's burdens.

"My father went through all these experiences, and you never heard him complain," Fred Davis said. "He always wanted to celebrate the better side of life."

Born in Manhattan, Davis lived more than 50 years on Long Island, first in Hempstead, then Merrick and, since 2005, Great Neck, family said. After the war, he was hired by AAA in New York City and then, in the 1960s, he left to develop a training program for the American Society of Travel Agents, his son said.

From his seminars on travel agent training, he conceived a multiclient trade representation business in 1963, Henry Davis Corp. The Freeport company linked travel agencies with travel-based businesses, including tour companies, hotels and cruise lines, his son said.

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The company also produced travel industry trade shows, the first of which had 20 exhibits and about 150 attendees. In a span of 25 years, said his son, Henry Davis Corp. operated more than 500 trade shows in three dozen American and Canadian cities.

He sold the company to his employees in 1986, his son said.

He was first married in 1952. He married Thelma Tuckel in 1988.

In addition to his son, Fred, survivors include another son, Rick Davis of Greenlawn; a sister, Faye Lieman of Riverdale; and five grandchildren.

A military honor guard was present at the burial Sept. 11 at Mount Ararat Cemetery in East Farmingdale.