Robert Alan Ewert

Robert Alan Ewert, 63, of Scottsdale, AZ., passed away Saturday, January 13, 2007, after fighting a very courageous battle with cancer. He was in the comfort of his home with his wife Peggy, daughter Kathrine and brother Ron, at his bedside. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to the late Henry L. Ewert and Mary Ewert. He is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife Peggy, daughter Kathrine (Peter) Browall, grandson Gustaf, brother Ronald, 3 nieces and 3 nephews. He lived life with a real sense of purpose, joy and a sense of fulfillment. He received his BA degree in mathematics at the University of Illinois in 1966. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Air Force and was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. Being one of the youngest Captains at 23 years of age, he was the Aircraft Commander of Operation - RC - 135 aircraft in classified, worldwide reconnaissance missions. He married Peggy A. Synovec in 1972 and left the Air Force in 1973 with an Honorable Discharge, moving to Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Arizona State University (ASU) and received his MBA in 1974. He held many jobs and had a wide variety of interests. He word for the Federal Energy Administration, flew commercially for Saudia Arabian Airlines, operating L-1011 aircraft from 1977-79 while living in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia. He then worked at the Arizona office of Data Administration from 1979-1981. He bought and operated his own commercial hot air balloon company, Pegasus Balloon, from 1982-1996, attending the Abq. International Balloon Festival each of those years. In 1984 he was hired with a new start up airline in Phoenix, America West Airlines and flew as a Captain on the B737, B757, Airbus A320, and A319 until 2003, when he retired. In 2001 he applied for and was accepted into Law School at ASU. He graduated in Dec. 2004 and passed the Arizona Bar exam in 2005. After graduation he worked for the Arizona Department of Energy and did volunteer work for the Senior Citizen Law Project, writing wills and trusts. Upon Bob's request, his body was donated to the independent facility, Med Cure, located in Portland, Oregon, an independent donor program for scientific research and medical education. At his direction, there will be no wake or funeral and a private Celebration of Life party will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, he has requested donations be made to the American Cancer Society.