Southern Adventist University is mourning the sudden loss of Mark Peach, a history and political studies professor who served the institution and its students for 35 years.
Peach passed away while at his home sometime during the February 11 to 13 weekend, according to Lisa Diller, chair of the History and Political Studies Department.
According to Diller, when Peach didn’t show up for classes or answer any emails or texts on Monday, February 14, she went to visit his house. Since there was no response to her knock and the door was unlocked, Diller said, she walked inside and found his body on the ground.
“I immediately called my husband,” Diller said in an interview with the Accent. “He called 911.”
On Tuesday, February 22, Hamilton County Medical Examiner Dr. James Metcalfe told the Southern Accent that he conducted an external examination of the body and found no suspicion of foul play. He said an autopsy was not conducted because of Peach’s medical history with hypertension. He said the cause of death will be determined after he receives toxicology reports, which should be completed in about four weeks.
Diller said there will be a memorial service on March 6, at 10 a.m., in Lynn Wood Hall to honor Peach’s life. Peach is survived by his stepmother, three brothers and his son, Connor.
According to an email sent to the student body by the President’s Office, Peach graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Walla Walla College, master’s degree from Washington State University and doctoral degree from the University of Chicago.
He spent one year in Berlin, Germany, from 1996-1997, on a prestigious Fulbright Research Grant, according to Diller.
“He noticed things,” Diller said. “When you walked into his office, he gave you his full attention. And, he would remember things that you said that you were interested in and bring it up again later and make connections over and over again.”
Rachel Byrd, English professor, recounted her time co-teaching with Peach for several years.
“Dr. Peach had read a lot of books, and he had a good memory. He was a brilliant lecturer,” Byrd said. “For years, he and I team-taught a class together. His broad grasp of the outline of history, his fascination with intellectual history, his wide reading and his capacious mind made his lectures interesting to me, year after year, always with a new spin and new information, always with perfectly formed sentences and dry wit.”
Byrd also highlighted his love for nature.
“Dr. Peach was a finisher. I teased him that he had a PhD. because once he started something, he couldn’t leave it alone until he finished,” Byrd said. “He planned to hike the Appalachian Trail, and he made it as far as Mount Washington in New Hampshire. His journey up the Appalachian Trail is unfinished. His life is unfinished. He had so much more to give us all.”
Students and faculty have also written memories and reflections on sticky notes and posted them on his office door. Here are some of the sentiments expressed:
“This semester was my first class with Prof. Peach. His dry sense of humor and teaching style made learning about history fun. I wish I had gotten more time to learn about him.”
“I am so heart broken. I’ll never be able to take more classes from Professor Peach. He was always so kind, opening the reader office every time I didn’t have my ID card. Truly a genius who always encouraged learning and curiosity in his class. Thank you Professor Peach for caring about us. Love, Anna.”
“I’ll never forget the passion and [intellect] Dr. Peach displayed in his classes. He was an inspiration! Thank you Dr. Peach for everything! Patrick and Julia Scriven.”
“Dr. Peach, thank you so much for everything you did for Southern. From honors program to teaching history and philosophy, even honors seminars, you pushed me to be the best I could be. I appreciate you. I will continue to work hard and to make you proud. I will miss you. I will see you again. This is not goodbye. Aisie V. ”
“Dr. Peach seemed to have infinite knowledge on all manner of subjects. You could ask him about anything, and he could tell you something about it. He was incredibly witty and kind, you could always tell he was passionate about what he taught. I wish I had gotten to know him a bit better.”
“I had always heard that Dr. Peach was super intimidating and hard on his students. Yet, after taking multiple classes from him and getting to know him outside of the classroom, I realized that Dr. Peach was a very kind individual who loved to teach. Peach truly enjoyed history and sought to learn throughout his career. His encouragement was clearly displayed.”
Peach’s office door is covered in more than 40 sticky notes, printed emails, Facebook messages, cards and poems. There is also a picture of him at the top of the door. On the floor are three flower arrangements. One arrangement holds a note that reads, “Dr. Peach, for an understated man whose impact can’t be overstated.”
