In loving memory of Michael Douglas Davich

Obituary

Michael Douglas Davich, 57, a Winter Park General Contractor/Consultant with a passion for God, family, friends, and historic restoration, died at home Wednesday, December 24, 2008, of lymphoma. A graduate of Winter Park High School (1969), the University of Florida (1973) and Stetson University (MBA), Davich founded Cornerstone Restorations Inc. a firm that has been prominent in preserving Central Florida’s historic buildings. Some of the best known local buildings Davich worked on were Rosie O’Grady’s and the French Market in downtown Orlando. He also restored the historic Waterhouse House on Lake Lily in Maitland. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and came with his family in 1957 to Winter Park when his father Michael Davich, an engineer with the Martin Company, was transferred to Orlando. Davich began his Cornerstone Restorations, Inc. in 1976, when he worked on Bob Snow’s Rosie O’Gradys Good Time Emporium. Davich, his wife Anita Polk Davich, and family moved to New Smyrna Beach in 1978, where he taught in the Building Construction Department at Daytona Beach Community College for 17 years. He was the G.C. for the restorations of the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and the Anclote Key Lighthouse. Another project of his familiar to visitors to New Smyrna Beach is the CorMeth House located at the corner of Flagler and Peninsula avenues. He was a City Commissioner on the New Smyrna Beach City Council from 1988 to 1993. A longtime member of the Florida and National Trust for Historic Preservation, he was hired in 1993 as the Executive Director/Contractor responsible for the restoration of the Ewa Villages sugar plantation community consisting of 250 early 20th century homes built for the workers of the plantation. The family moved to Oahu, Hawaii that year. In 2001 he was hired by CNL, Inc., of Orlando to oversee the renovation of the Waikiki Marriott Hotel in Waikiki and upon its completion, Davich and his wife returned to Winter Park, Florida. Other renovations Davich oversaw were the JW Marriott, New Orleans; The Naples Grande and the Edgewater Hotel in Naples, Florida. He is survived by his wife, Anita, a son Milan, New Smyrna Beach, a daughter Anna Lohr, Orlando, a grandson Milan Ambrose, Dunedin, his mother Irene Davich and brother David Davich, Winter Park and a sister Diane Thurbon, Orlando. In lieu of flowers, the Davich family request monetary gifts for his family to help during this life-changing transition. Memorial celebration of life for Doug will be 3:00 PM Saturday January 3, 2009 at All Saints Episcopal Church Interlachen Avenue Winter Park. Baldwin Brothers Cremation Services