Peter Ewbank

Ewbank, Peter
died on February 11, a few days shy of his 26th birthday, after a brief illness. He was surrounded in his final days by his family, friends, and the love of his life, all of whom were better for knowing him. His young life was cut tragically short, but Pete experienced in 25 years what most couldn't fit into 100. A native of Phoenix, he graduated at the top of his class at Sunnyslope High School before heading to the University of Oregon's Clark Honors College on a scholarship. During his time at Oregon, he served as director of the Clark Honors Introductory Program, studied Cervantes' "Don Quixote" and other pieces of classic literature alongside twelve inmates at
the Oregon State Penitentiary, spent many a Sunday playing ultimate Frisbee, and founded the university's snowboarding club. He was a member of the Mortar Board Society, served as the campus campaign coordinator for Teach for America, and was a member of the Student Recreation Center Advisory Board. After successfully defending his senior thesis, Peter graduated cum laude in 2010. After graduation, Peter's passion for social justice and educational reform led him to a three-year fellowship with Teach for America at KIPP Tulsa, a public, tuition-free, college preparatory charter school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in Tulsa, he earned his Master's in Education from the University of Oklahoma. He moved to Denver in 2013 and accepted a job teaching eighth grade English at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy. But Peter was so much more than the sum of those accomplishments. His enthusiasm for teaching and zeal for life were contagious. He was fortunate to find his true love early in life, and spent the last year building a home in Denver with her and their two dogs. He was smart, engaging, witty, and kind, with great hair and a heart for adventure, the outdoors, and the Oregon Ducks. He loved camping, hiking, and snowboarding, and had great taste in microbrews and music. He was beloved by his students, respected by his colleagues, and made an indelible impact on those he touched wherever he went. He had many more mountains to ride and much more to experience in his life, and the people who loved him are devastated to have lost him. He is survived by his parents, Scott and Tina Ewbank of Phoenix; his sister, Molly Ewbank of Seattle; his love, Emily Davaney-Graham of Denver and her family; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and students. Those who loved Peter are joining together to create an educational foundation in his memory. For more information about how to support the initiative, please email info@peakachievers.org