Dr. Peter Zwadyk, Jr. April 3, 1941 - May 5, 2009 Dr. Peter Zwadyk, Jr., age 68, of Glendale Springs, passed away on Tuesday morning after a year-long battle with melanoma. A Celebration of Life Party was held at the Ashe Arts Center on Saturday, May 2nd. Over 125 people attended to express their affection, demonstrating the many lives Dr. Zwadyk touched. The family would like to thank everyone who made Peter's party a success. He enjoyed the day like no other. Dr. Zwadyk was born in Kansas City, Kansas to Peter Zwadyk, Sr., and Genevieve Wolcheski Zwadyk. He attended Ward High School, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas City in 1962 and his Masters of Science and Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Iowa in 1966 and 1971, respectively. Dr. Zwadyk pursued a varied and active career in medicine. He worked for private firms in St. Louis, Missouri, and Evansville, Indiana, conducting a variety of disease-related research. In 1971, Dr. Zwadyk joined the faculty of Duke University Medical School and was the director of the Microbiology and Immunology laboratories at the Durham VA Medical Center. As an Associate Professor of Pathology and Microbiology at Duke University for 30 years, he was recognized as an excellent teacher who influenced the lives of many students. Peter could be described as a Renaissance Man, who had many interests and never lost his passion for learning. While living in Durham, Peter enjoyed fly fishing with the Triangle Fly Fishing Club, was a licensed private pilot, President of a photography club and was dedicated to physical fitness. Following his retirement from Duke in 2000, Peter and wife, Sally, permanently relocated to Glendale Springs where he immediately became involved in the Ashe County community. Peter entered a new facet of his education career by volunteering with Mountain View Elementary School. There he shared his love of birdwatching and the outdoors with the students of the Eagle Bird Club which he and teacher, Ruth Turnmire formed. Working with these students gave him great joy. He was a regular in the county's bridge club circles, served as President of the Blue Ridge Bird Club and the Ashe County Garden Club and volunteered with the National Committee for the New River. He was a member of the R.O.M.E.O. men's breakfast group. Peter was well known for his culinary talents especially his oatmeal raisin cookies. He traveled extensively in the US and to Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand but always loved to come home to the mountains of Ashe County where he felt he belonged. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 23 years, Sally Kiker Zwadyk, his children and their spouses Laura (David) Davenport of Midlothian, VA, Vincent Peter (Julie) Zwadyk of Huntersville, NC, Becky (Mike Cantwell) Zwadyk of Arlington, VA, Dave (Barbara) Zwadyk of Greensboro, NC and William P. Tatum III of Glendale Springs, NC. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ashley and Marshall Davenport, Maeve and Eoin Cantwell, Walsh Zwadyk, and Christopher Harvey. Though his professional accomplishments were many, his five children remember him for being a Dad who treated them as individuals, supporting their different endeavors. He coached their sports teams, was a scout leader, and attended all activities in which they were involved. Donations in memory of Peter Zwadyk may be made to the Children's Department of the Ashe County Library, 148 Library Drive, West Jefferson, NC 28694.