Peter K. MacEwen

Peter K. MacEwen, of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on January 26, 2026. He was born in Norwood, Massachusetts and grew up in East Walpole, Massachusetts. He was the son of the late Kimble Peter MacEwen and Honora [MacDonald] MacEwen. In 1954 Pete met his future wife, Kathyrne Rita MacInnis, in Antigonish, Nova Scotia while attending St. Francis Xavier University where Rita was in nursing school. They were married in 1958 and spent the following years raising their family, he as a civil engineer and she as a registered nurse. They both enjoyed vacationing in Nova Scotia where Rita was born and raised, and in Englewood, Florida where they had a condominium for many years. Pete was especially proud of his Scottish heritage as his parents were born in Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Pete and Rita enjoyed playing golf which they took up after Pete retired in late 1997. They lived in Thornbury Township, Delaware County for 29 years before moving to London Grove Township, Chester County in 2001. They enjoyed living close to their three grown children and five grandchildren - one of Pete’s greatest joys was seeing the grandchildren grow up. In March of 2015, Pete and Rita were overjoyed with the birth of their first great granddaughter, Lyla Grace Windle. Rita had been battling leukemia for nearly a year and prayed to see the baby girl born and joyously she was able to hold her on numerous occasions. Rita passed away on July 6, 2015. Pete and Rita were married for 57 years and did almost everything together and when Rita died it was the greatest loss Pete experienced in his life. His three children were so supportive that he was able to endure his grief. Whatever else Pete achieved in his life, it didn’t compare to the love that he and Rita shared for nearly 60 years.

Pete and Rita had great pride in their three children and their academic accomplishments and their subsequent career successes. Brian and Diane became civil engineers, and Lynne became a Nurse Practitioner. All three held senior positions in their careers. The three of them earned a total of six degrees in their fields of study.

Pete was a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and Technical University of Nova Scotia, [now Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia], with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He attended the Stanford University graduate school of civil engineering and studied under Professor Ray K. Linsley, an internationally respected engineer. After one year, Pete earned a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering – Economic Planning from Stanford University. Pete also was a licensed professional engineer in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for 45 years, and he was also licensed as a registered professional land surveyor in Pennsylvania.

He worked in the field of water supply and water resource engineering for 40 years and was the Executive Manager and Chief Engineer of the Chester Water Authority in Chester, Pennsylvania for 24 years before retiring in October 1997. Prior to working at Chester Water Authority, he worked for the Delaware River Basin Commission in Trenton, New Jersey and the American Water Works Service Company in Philadelphia.

He was a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA). He was a Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, and received the Engineer of the Year Award in 1992 from the Delaware County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. He also received the Samuel S. Baxter Award from the Pennsylvania Section of AWWA, the George Warren Fuller Award from the National AWWA, and the William S. Marcus Award from the PMAA.

During his career he was active in numerous civic organizations including a member of the board of directors for the United Way of Southeast Delaware County for 8 years, a director of the Chester Boys Club for 23 years, and a member of the Zoning Hearing Board in Thornbury Township, Delaware County for 10 years. He was on the board of directors for the Municipal Authority of Upper Southampton in Bucks County in the early 1970’s; and after retiring in 1997, he served for eight years on the board of directors for the London Grove Township Municipal Authority in Chester County.

He was active in several professional associations and served as president of the PMAA in 1985 and was Chairman of the Pennsylvania Section of the AWWA in 1987-88. During his career he wrote numerous technical papers for publication and presentation at technical conferences. After his retirement he wrote a book which chronicled the history of the MacEwen family.

He was predeceased by his wife Kathyrne Rita MacEwen, [nee MacInnis] of 57 years. He was also predeceased by his sister Jean MacEwen Dean of Englewood, Florida. He is survived by his son Brian Peter MacEwen; his daughter Kathyrne Lynne Quinn and husband Terrence Quinn; and his daughter Honora Diane DiMarco and husband Donald DiMarco; his sister Janet Young of Englewood, Florida; and grandchildren Allison MacEwen Windle and husband Luke, and Steven MacEwen Quinn and his wife Gianna, [nee Capelli]; and Daniel Kimble DiMarco, James Duncan DiMarco, and Thomas Joseph DiMarco; and four great grandchildren: Lyla Grace Windle, Owen Isaiah Windle, Violet Joy Windle, and Colter John Quinn.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation 10:00-11:00 AM Saturday, February 7, 2026 at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 15 E. Pleasant Grove Rd, West Chester, PA 19382, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM. Interment Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation, 240 N. Radnor Chester Rd, Ste 340, Radnor, PA 19087 and the Eagles Autism Foundation, One NovaCare Way, Phila., PA 19145, would be appreciated.