Activity

Linda Kay Davidson (1946 – 2017)
The Camino community has lost one of its most influential and esteemed members. Linda Kay Davidson – pilgrim, friend, scholar, author, mentor and colleague – died on October 24th. Linda was a member of the first group of modern American pilgrims on the Camino francés in 1974 when fewer than 200 persons received the Compostelana (today’s Compostela). She and her husband, David Gitlitz, co-led groups of student pilgrims in 1974, 1979, 1987, 1993, and 1996.

Linda’s academic career produced numerous books, among which are three on pilgrimage topics, co-authored with David: the remarkable The Pilgrimage Road to Santiago: The Complete Cultural Handbook  packed with trustworthy history and social commentary and laced throughout with witty sidebar articles on customs and crafts, the seminal two-volume set on world pilgrimage Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland: An Encyclopedia, and Pilgrimage and the Jews. She also co-edited, with Maryjane Dunn and Tom Coffey, The Miracles of Saint James: Translations from the Liber Sancti Jacobi, and with Maryjane Dunn, Pilgrimage in the Middle Ages: A Research Guide, The Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela: A Comprehensive, Annotated Bibliography, and The Pilgrimage to Compostela in the Middle Ages: A Book of Essays.

In 1993 Linda became the secretary and later, in 1997, the coordinator of the Friends of the Road to Santiago Newsletter and guided its transition into and merger with the American Pilgrims in 2004.

Beyond the academics, Linda was a true friend to many, kind and helpful, adventurous and curious, generous beyond measure, and always keeping us organized with her ever-present lists. Not only have we lost an influential member of our community, we have lost a gentle friend. God speed.

George Greenia
Maryjane Dunn
Lynn Talbot