2nd Lt. Tara Utecht Davis, Air National Guard, 33, passed May 27, 2023, at a Bangor hospital after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer.
Tara was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire on March 10, 1990 and graduated from Hampden Academy in 2008. After graduation, she enlisted in the Bangor Air National Guard. She was an avid learner, and while serving earned her Bachelors of Science in Zoology from the University of Maine followed by a Masters of Science in Sustainability Science from Unity College. She was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant after completing Air Force Officer Training School. Her love of learning earned her the nickname “Google”.
On August 25, 2018 Tara married the love of her life, Aaron Davis. The two shared their home in Bangor with their two dogs, Luna and Beacon.
Tara is described by her family as having been an extremely loving and kind young woman. She had a passion for hiking, yoga and fitness and loved to challenge herself in the gym. A soccer player, she later coached the girls JV soccer team at Hampden Academy. In the summer of 2021 during the pandemic, she hiked more than 100 miles of trails over the beautiful Maine countryside. She founded the hiking group, Maine Peak Seekers to share her experiences with others and encourage them to do the same. Tara and the story of what inspired her to found the group were featured in a Bangor WABI news story on National Take A Hike Day: https://www.wabi.tv/2021/11/17/maine-womans-journey-about-more-than-reaching-peak/
At the time of her passing, Tara was working as a Field Epidemiologist for the Maine Center for Disease Control.
To honor Tara, her family chose a heart shaped stone from the site where she and her husband married in Brooklin, Maine.
3 Comments
I had the honor of carrying 2nd Lt. Tara Utecht Davis tribute stone for the Flags on the 48 Hike in the White Mountains this year. It is a patriotic day so I knew it would be a nice event to carry on. I loved the heart shaped stone and received many compliments and inquiries about Tara while on the summit of Mount Pierce. I told Tara’s story to others and really enjoyed talking about that with people that were all interested and engaged. She was so impressive in many ways, least of which is from an academic standpoint coinciding with her commitment to support her Country. Many asked me to pass along their Thank You for service replies and I obviously want to share my thanks as well. Thank you so much for trusting me with this gift for the day, it was really pretty special. MHANF Joe Connors
I was deeply honored to carry 2nd LT Tara U Davis stone and story on September 21, 2024 to the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park for TSP at ANP 2024.
Earlier that week, I had signed up to become a hiker at TSP at ANP. I gathered some information about Tara from the Summit project, watching a YouTube video of her talking about Maine peak seekers and looking into her blogs about her hikes.
The day started early and the anticipation of climbing to the summit of the iconic Cadillac Mountain. I gathered my hiking gear, placed it in my vehicle and finished my travels to base camp. Upon arrival, I was greeted by familiar faces with a giant smile and a very warm welcome. Right then, I already knew this would be a special day!
I milled around chatting with some familiar faces and took some time to learn some new ones.
Alas, the time came where we loaded the buses to depart for our assigned trails and begin the trek up the mountain carrying the honor stones and memories of those Heroes that have been lost from Maine.
After a quick photo and group discussion, we were off. We departed the parking lot into the canopied trail of Acadia National Park.
The hike up the mountain was nothing less than spectacular. From the crisp Maine air, the beautiful fall foliage, the wonderful company we shared, and the breath taking views, to the moments of self- reflection. You cannot help at times to wonder what a conversation with your hero at a specific moment would be like.
When we reached the summit of Cadillac Mountain, everyone went about their own agenda chatting with others, congratulating the other teams who had made the trip ahead of us, some silently taking it all in, and some just kicking back and relaxing in the moment.
When I walked over to a quiet spot that had a rock, I climbed upon it and had a seat. I had the stone of Tara in my hands as I looked out upon the base of the mountain and out to the expanse of the frigid Atlantic Ocean. In that moment I realized a point of significance and a wave of emotions came over me.
Now here I am, atop Cadillac Mountain on a beautiful Maine Fall September day, sunshine upon me and the brisk ocean breeze diluting out everything but my thoughts. I am here overlooking the Atlantic and sharing the moment with the memory of Tara, lying beside her honor stone. Moments like this don’t come about every day and it is through TSP that I was able to experience it, share it with others, and that I will be able to remember it for a lifetime! Because of moments like this, MHANF!!
Dear Family of Air National Guard 2nd Lt. Tara U. Davis. First and foremost my apologies for my tardiness writing this note to you. I carried Tara beautiful stone at the Oxford/ Norway Parade in November. My life and Tara’s life were very similar with certain circumstances. I was immediately moved by her lifes journey, and was swept away with emotion reading about her. I know we often write that it was an honor carrying all the soldiers stones, but this time this one hit home on many levels. I was meant to carry Tara at that parade in November. Take Care. Every time I see a heart shaped stone on my hikes, it will have new meaning. I see them often.