Obituaries

Michael David Peven

Photo of Michael  David Peven
Michael David "Mike" Peven, age 68, of Fayetteville, passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017. He was born on April 12, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, to Bernard and Dorothy Estelle Spinka Peven. He is preceded in death by his father. Mike was a beloved husband, father, son, brother, and uncle. He attained an artium baccalaureus in design from the University of Illinois, Chicago, in 1971 and a master of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1977. Mike began teaching at the University of Arkansas in 1977, and with hard work and a lot of energy, built a photography program. He was a dedicated educator who gave forty years of service as a professor of photography, serving as chairman of the Art department for eight of those years, from 1992 to 2000. He was also a very active member of his professional organization, the Society for Photographic Education where he received the distinction of Honored Educator in 2014 among many other awards throughout his career. Mike was a passionate photographic artist and bookmaker. His works have been displayed in countless national and international museums and art collections. He was an avid collector of photographic books, oddities, and bad jokes. He was a jazz lover and bebop aficionado. The sounds of Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk were frequently heard in his vicinity. A faithful dog owner, he loved nothing more than his daily walks where he made friends with both people and animals. He came from the big city of Chicago and made the transition to becoming a true Arkansawyer. He was a mainstay of the Fayetteville creative community. He was a Cubs fan and a solid first baseman on his softball team. He was a loveable curmudgeon and will be sorely missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia Christie of the home; two sons, Joseph Peven of Chicago, Illinois, and Jonathan Peven of Fayetteville; his mother, Dorothy Peven of Alameda, California; two brothers, Daniel Peven and wife Yolanda of Berkley, California, and Charles Peven and wife Kathleen of Wenatchee, Washington; and four nieces and nephews, Kye, Dylon, Benjamin, and Grace Peven. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Michael Peven Scholarship for Students of Photography at the University of Arkansas, 525 Old Main, 1 University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701. Checks should be made payable to the University of Arkansas Foundation with Peven Scholarship in the memo line, or donations may be made online at www.michaelpeven.com/scholarship. A visitation will be held from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Moore's Chapel Funeral Home in Fayetteville. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at 224 N East Ave., Fayetteville, Ark. 72701. To sign the online guest book, visit www.mooresfuneralchapel.com.

Published July 15, 2017

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