Donald N Ewart

Donald Norton Ewart, loving partner, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2022 at the age of 92, at his home in Fort Mill, SC, in the company of loved ones.

Don was born to Joseph Norton and Mildred Lane (Cushing) Ewart on July 16, 1930 in Buffalo, NY, the first of four children.

Don attended Kenmore West High School, Genesee Junior College, and Cornell University, where he graduated in 1954 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, and later earned an MSEE from Union College. His career in electrical engineering continued a tradition begun by his maternal grandfather, who graduated from one of the first EE programs at MIT in 1899, and continued by his father (and later a son).

It was while at Cornell that he met a beautiful young nurse-to-be, Patricia Ann Phelps. Don and Pat married at Kenmore United Methodist Church in 1954 and made their first home in Dayton, Ohio where Don served at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a 1st Lieutenant after completing ROTC in college. Following his military service, Don joined the General Electric Transformer Department in Pittsfield, MA, working in the Lightning Research Lab. In 1960 he joined GE’s Electric Utility Systems Engineering Department in Schenectady, NY where he held titles of Manager, System Dynamics and Control (1969), and Manager, Systems Engineering (1977). During this period he made major contributions to advance the role of large interconnected power systems in “keeping the lights on,” thus enhancing our quality of life. In 1980, Don became Manager, Transmission and Distribution, with responsibilities for product application and analysis for AC and HVDC Transmission Systems, Distribution Systems, and for Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) High Voltage Transmission Research Center in Lenox, MA.

Don and Pat enjoyed over 30 years of marriage in Schenectady where they raised their five children. It was homebase for many global adventures and a large circle of friends, including the infamous Dirty Dozen bridge group. In 1986 he would become known as “Popsie” by his expanding family of grandchildren.

Don’s career as an Electrical Engineer specializing in interconnected power systems brought him acclaim around the world. He traveled to over 60 countries, consulting on the large-scale generation and delivery of electricity, improving the lives of millions, and he made friends everywhere he went. He was an active member of the Power & Energy Society of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Fellows Committee. He is the author of over 40 technical articles and papers, and was a registered Professional Engineer in the states of New York and Massachusetts. He was named Life Fellow by the IEEE for pioneering contributions to the analysis of the control and dynamics of large-scale electric power systems.

In 1987 Don joined Power Technologies, Inc, (PTI) as Manager of Consulting Services, where he remained until his retirement. It was at PTI that Don met his loving partner, Margaret Stambach, a fellow engineer, who would accompany him on his adventures for the remainder of his life. Don & Margaret enjoyed a 34 year commitment and shared life to its fullest. Together they explored their love of electrical engineering, motorcycling, boating on Lake George, NY, skiing, bicycling and world travel. Margaret’s career brought them to Fort Mill, SC, and it’s here where they have enjoyed time with friends and family, and he became known and loved by Margaret’s extended family as “Uncle Don-Ski”.

During the 1960’s Don was among the pioneers of an exercise wave that swept the country. He was a regular practitioner of the Canadian Royal Air Force regimen, and contributed to the popularity of jogging by circling the neighborhood nightly for 3 miles. This habit is continued by his children today, and on his 80th birthday they joined him to run a combined 80 kilometers in celebration of his milestone. Other hobbies included photography, bicycling, motorcycling, woodworking and a passion for sailing. He was a voracious learner, studying books on sailing and racing strategy, and he extended that to his joy for teaching, becoming a US Power Squadron instructor, helping other boaters develop their navigation and boating skills, along with a course in meteorology.

Don was a fan of Garrison Keillor and his “Prairie Home Companion'' radio show, and on the day before his passing he enjoyed listening to “The News from Lake Wobegon'' one more time with family. He recorded each episode into a library that he would listen to as he rode his motorcycle through 47 of the lower 48 states. When Garrison was informed of this, he called Don “an inspiration to the rest of us”, which is a fitting summary of Don’s life.

In addition to his sharp mind and wit, some things that characterized Don were his charming smile, confidence and zest for life. He loved to have fun and his passion for enjoyment was infectious to all who knew and loved him, and is in the DNA of all of his offspring, of whom he was beyond proud. The sparkle of adventure and twinkle in his eye is how we will remember Don.

Don is survived by two siblings, Ruth Hill (James) and James Ewart; a sister-in-law Nancy Maxon Ewart (Robert); his longtime partner Margaret Stambach; his former wife Patricia; five children Richard Norton (Carol Carter), Susan Dawn Neely (Chris Nafis), Glen Milton (Beverly), Lynn Margaret Gula (Tom) and Laura Helene McEvoy; twelve grandchildren, Michelle Ewart, Christopher Ewart, Sean (Deanna) Ewart, Anic Neely, Heather Gula Foster (Michael), Alyssa Ewart, Erin Neely Hadcock (Travis), Teddy (Priscilla) Gula, Joe Gula, Jeremy McEvoy, Michael Gula, and Twig McEvoy; and three great-grandchildren, Lisian, Hadley and Harper. He is preceded in death by his brother Robert, a brother-in-law James Hill, and a grandchild Frederick Gula.

A public viewing followed by a service in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 from 3 - 5pm at the Palmetto Funeral Home located at 2049 Carolina Place Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708. A dinner reception for family and friends will follow at the home of Margaret Stambach. In lieu of flowers Don has requested that donations be made to Special Olympics.

The Celebration of Life will be live streamed and also permanently on the Palmetto Funeral Home YouTube page for later viewing.