Sylvia Scalera Davison was born January 1, 1923, and passed away peacefully on March 16, 2026 in her home in Puyallup, Washington. She is survived by her children: Holly Davison, Daniel Davison, and Peter Davison, and her three grandchildren: Lydia Davison, Paulina Davison, and Alden Davison. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Davison, and her oldest daughter, Robin Davison.

Born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, Sylvia was the youngest of five children. Her parents were Italian. Her father, Saverio Scalera, was a Presbyterian minister, and her mother, Bambina Fialdo Scalera, worked as a social worker in the church. Due to Bambina’s busy schedule, Sylvia was raised mostly by a live-in nanny, Vincenza, for whom she has especially strong memories.

Sylvia graduated from Wilson College in 1944 with a degree in mathematics, and later obtained a teaching certificate at Sacramento State College (1964), eventually teaching second grade in the Bellevue and Renton School Districts (1964 – 1990.)

After her retirement from public education at the age of 67, Sylvia tutored more than 500 struggling readers in her home. She did this until the age of 99 ¾. Unhappy with the tutoring materials available, she began writing her own stories and creating her own games. This led to perhaps her biggest accomplishment of her life, which was authoring and distributing the GoPhonics curriculum for dyslexic children and struggling readers. Her daughter, Holly, a graphic artist by trade, did all the illustrations and marketing for the project, which still sells globally and is a recognized brand in the world of phonics-based instruction.

Sylvia loved music, especially playing the piano and singing. She sang baritone in “Sweet Adalines” (Jet Cities Chapter) for many years, and of course, sang in church choir. However, some of her greatest joys grew out of teaching, especially teaching struggling readers. She would often relate the story of a young second grade boy, who for the first time in his life exclaimed from the back seat of the car, “Hey mom, I can read!”

Sylvia was a Christian, and a member of the Puyallup United Methodist Church of Puyallup, Washington. In the last years of her life, she indicated her readiness to go “home” to her Heavenly Father, and to see loved ones who had preceded her in death. She was 103 at the time of her passing.

Gifts can be made in Sylvia’s memory to Puyallup United Methodist Church.