Alice McLaughlin Davis, 83, chemistry teacher

Alice McLaughlin Davis, 83, of Germantown, a respected chemistry teacher at William Penn Charter School, died of cancer Thursday, April 16, at home.

Her father, Frank McLaughlin, believed that girls should be given the same opportunities as boys, and he paid for her college education. She built on that foundation.

A member of the first generation of her family to attend college and to receive an advanced degree, she later became the first female upper-school science teacher at Penn Charter and its first female science department head. She joined the Penn Charter faculty in 1972 and taught all the chemistry courses, including organic chemistry and the history of science.

"It would be an understatement to say she loved her career, her subject, and her students - she reveled in them and was repaid with enormous respect and love from colleagues, students, and parents," said her husband, David R. Davis.

Mrs. Davis was elected to Penn Charter's honorary 1689 Society, received a Siemens Grant, and was given a national teaching award - the latter presented by President Bill Clinton at the White House.

Mrs. Davis, who taught by the Socratic method, related chemistry and science to philosophy, art, and literature. She rigorously prepared her students for Advanced Placement ranking, working weekends to help them. She wrote lengthy recommendations to get them admitted to some of the nation's top colleges, her husband said. She retired in 2010.

Born in Jersey City, N.J., Mrs. Davis earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the New Jersey College for Women (now Douglass Residential College) in 1953. Almost two decades later, she earned a master's degree in education from Temple University.

Before entering the classroom, Mrs. Davis was a research chemist for Ciba Pharmaceuticals, Sherwin-Williams, and Arizona Chemical. In 1953, she married David Davis; the two lived in Florida and Illinois before settling in Germantown.

When not in the classroom, Mrs. Davis enjoyed reading about the history of science, and studying physics and geology. She also loved "fine dining, good wine, and convivial company," her husband said.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by daughters Sheila and Victoria; a son, David; five grandchildren; and a sister.

A Quaker meeting for worship will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the Meeting Room at William Penn Charter School, 3000 W. School House Lane, Philadelphia 19144. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to the Alice M. Davis Scholarship Fund, in care of Penn Charter at the address above.