Carolyn (Davidge) Demtrak

Carolyn Davidge Demtrak passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17, 2025.  She was born in Binghamton on June 5, 1939. She is survived by her daughters and their spouses: Betsy and Al Akina, Sarah and Campbell Rogers, Carrie and Eric Browne, and grandchildren: Alex and James Akina, Chris, Charles, Genny and Camille Rogers, and Will, Kate and Megan Browne.  She also is survived by her niece Eliz Davidge, and nephew Jimmy Davidge and their families, as well as numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.
Callie was predeceased by her husband and love of her life, Chris Demtrak, whom she met ice skating at Rec Park when she was 12 and he was 13; her parents Jimmy and Nene Davidge, and her brother John Davidge and his wife Jean.
She was a 1957 BCHS graduate and 1961 graduate of Mount Holyoke College.  She and Chris married in August 1961, and moved to Albany for Chris's medical school, then to Honolulu, Hawaii for his pediatric residency, and finally to Columbia, SC to finish his Army duty.  They returned home to Binghamton in 1969 to raise their daughters and to grow old together.
Callie was lifelong volunteer. She was one of the 1984 four founding members of the Noncredit Liberal Studies Programs at SUNY Binghamton, which became Lyceum in 1988.  She was the first paid coordinator from 1988 until 2009 when she retired. 
Her extensive leadership and volunteerism included being the board chair at the Community Foundation, Binghamton University Foundation Campaign Division Leader, Good Shepherd Fairview Foundation Board Development Committee Chairperson, Edward L Rose Conservancy Board of Directors, Broome County United Way Board of Directors, the Junior League, Discovery Center, Roberson Museum Foundation, Tri Cites Opera, United Way, Binghamton City School District Foundation Board, and others.
One of her great passions was music and singing, which led her to teach herself how to play the guitar and piano, and to teach Chris to appreciate classical music, opera, and musicals.  Among her many hobbies were antiquing and playing bridge, tennis and paddleball.  She and Chris learned to ski at Greek Peak and mixed skiing and antiquing with their love of travel. Her creative talents included flower arranging, sewing, gardening, and exploring other cultures through gourmet cooking and travel.  
 
After retirement, Callie and Chris loved traveling with family and friends, and most of all, spending summers entertaining at Quaker Lake.
A celebration of her life will be held at a later date. 
In Lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the Community Foundation for South Central New York, and Lyceum or other local charities.

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