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Orthodox Observer - January 1997 LETTERS Regional bias? Editor, I have often heard that the Orthodox Observer gives preferential treatment to happenings among the Orthodox faithful in the Eastern United States, but have often rationalized it away with the explanation that there are so many more Orthodox in the East than out here on the West Coast that you were only reporting in direct proportion to the demographic distribution. I must take issue, however, with your lack of coverage of the loss of our beloved Presbytera Linda (Demetra) Davis here in the Diocese of San Francisco. Yes, I realize that in your November issue there was a brief article mentioning the trust fund set up by Archbishop Spyridon for the Davis family, but it told the reader nothing about the precious, exuberant, loving individual that Presbytera was. I thank God that we have an Archbishop who makes no distinction between believers on either side of the Mississippi. The Davis family was so touched by His Eminence's calls and messages of love, concern and encouragement made even while he was still in Italy preparing for his enthronement. It is dismaying that the Orthodox Observer did not follow his lead in seeking out the details, circumstances and consequences of the accident. Since it is quite obvious that no one on your staff is going to come seeking this information, I will do my best to correct this oversight by supplying it for you: Presbytera Demetra Davis was born Linda Lovenduski in Dallas on June 11,1953. She spent most of her growing-up years in Southern California, but returned to Dallas after she graduated from college. On a trip to Greece in 1980, she had two encounters in Thessalonika which would shape the direction of the rest of her life: an encounter with Orthodox Christianity and an encounter with a young seminarian by the name of Matthew Davis. Upon her return to the States, Linda undertook studies in the Faith and was chrismated into the Church. In honor of the impact her encounters in Thessalonika had on her, she took St. Demetrios, patron saint of Thessalonika, as her own patron saint. In the spring of 1984, Matthew and Demetra were married, and shortly thereafter, he was ordained and assigned to Ascension parish in Oakland, Calif. Presbytera Demetra loved children dearly, and as a testimony to that fact, she selected a career in teaching. Unable to have children of her own, she and Fr. Matthew opted to build their family through adoption. By the grace of God, they were blessed with two beautiful adoptees, Christina from Guatemala and Philip from Peru. On Sept. 2, 1996, while traveling to visit Fr. Matthew's family, the Davis family was involved in a car accident which took the life of Presbytera Demetra. Christina and Philip sustained minor injuries. Fr. Matthew was quite seriously injured. He lay unconscious for a week, finally waking on the day of Presbytera's Trisagion. At this writing, Fr. Matthew continues to make a rapid and, according to his doctors, remarkable recovery. He began talking as soon as his tracheotomy device was plugged in and has since regained full command of his voice. He is now out of the wheelchair and is walking unassisted. Presbytera Donna Pappas [ Orthodox Observer - Vol. 62, No. 1122 - January 1997 - p. 6 ]
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