Peter Mankowski

Mankowski Peter. Born Feb. 22, 1909 to immigrant Polish parents Frank and Maryanna Mankowski and raised in the NE Mpls home of his uncle, John Mankowski. Peter attended parochial and public elementary schools and at Edison High was an athlete, journalist, actor, and an honor student of the June 1926 graduating class. After three summers aboard Great Lakes ore boats and mentoring by former teachers, he entered Dartmouth College, majored in English Literature and received his BA degree in 1933. He married hometown girl Melvina (Ruprecht) and together would raise a family. In 1934 he began a career as English teacher and coach at Edison where he fostered a classroom environment, which, beyond academics, engendered self-expression, self-confidence, and camaraderie through creative writing and reading/acting Shakespeare. Peter himself wrote a number of short stories, two of which were published in popular magazines. In 1944 he was commissioned into the US Navy, served as Communications Officer on Guam and continued in the Naval Reserve after discharge in 1946. That Fall he resumed his teaching and coaching career at Edison, supported teacher causes, and also prepped for teaching Russian. Remarried in 1958, Peter and wife Claris (Etscheid) retired in 1969 to Ocean Cove on the N Cal coast. They frequented nearby Sea Ranch where Peter sold property in between rounds at the golf course. In 1977 they moved to the S Cal community of San Juan Hills, and continued visits to the Sea Ranch meant enjoying golf and friends in both climes. Widowed in 1993, Peter was later reacquainted with a mutual friend and in 1995 moved to Princeton, MN where he and Edith (Palm) joined their lives until declining health forced a separation in 1999. Peter joined relatives living in Santa Rosa, California where they were together until his passing on April 4, 2005 at the age of 96. Peter touched many lives in a positive way. Correspondence and photos saved from college, teaching, and Navy days and from students, relatives, neighbors, family and friends is both a tribute to him and an indication of how valued those relationships were to each. Many were treated to his dance poses, partnered or solo, and knew any day could produce a quote from Shakespeare, a silly rhyme, a flowery phrase, a pun, a Polish song, or "You Are My Sunshine" on the harmonica. Peter is survived by daughter Marcia Pehrsson of San Diego and granddaughters Vickie Raniere of Lakewood, Jean Pehrsson of San Diego, and Sara Pehrsson of Yoder, CO, and by son David Mankowski and grandson Chris Mankowski of Santa Rosa. We celebrate his life, and hold his memory dear to our hearts. A poem written by Peter in memory of his coach and contemporary at Edison, Ray Parkins, perhaps serves to reflect qualities of both men: A schoolboy's mind shakes hands with many men Nor ever will let go of some - like him. His voice commands to leap and twist again As grace and power bubble to youth's brim. His gentle heart girt up with ribs of steel Speaks soft to sweaty shoulders slacked in loss; In victory now his joyous charges feel To gloat would melt the silver cup to dross. The shadows falling 'cross his sun of life Are checked before they touch his boys. In courage strides his step through strife Not forced on other eyes; and makes no noise. A schoolboy's mind sends questions far abroad; Brave memory stays; his coach he gives to God.

Published on May 22, 2005