Peter W. Sushka, Jr. passed away September 6, 2023. He was the special friend and loving husband of Mary JaeAbbitt
Sushka for 53 years; father of Peter Kevin Sushka with whom he had a special, caring, and devoted lifetime relationship;
and father-in-law ofAnna Hammarskjold who came into his life over 15 years ago providing so much pleasure. He was
the son of Peter Sushka, Sr. and Marie Martusevich ofAlexandria, Virginia, both of whose parents emigrated from Eastern
Europe to the US via Ellis Island in 1911. His special sister and brother-in-law Dr. Marie E. Sushka and Dr. Myron B.
Slovin are retired Economists living in Paris. His grandson Justin Lex Hammarskjold works in Stockholm and played a
memorable part in Peter’s life. MJ’s twin brothers Bruce and Ben Abbitt knew Peter before he met her-a unique family
story.
Peter was born on July 13, 1940, at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. He recalled rolling Easter eggs on the White
House lawn with Eleanor Roosevelt; and, watching from his father’s shoulders, President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1945
funeral procession as it left the capital city for Hyde Park N.Y. His 1958 graduation from theAlexandria VASchool
System culminated in an appointment as Midshipman to the US Naval Academy, class of 1962. Peter recalled the Brigade
marching down Pennsylvania Avenue in the Inaugural Parade of President John F. Kennedy on a cold blustery snowy
slushy day, all watching as poet Robert Frost’s notes flew off the podium, causing him to extemporize so gracefully.A
1976 Masters of Science in Management from the Monterey Naval Postgraduate School followed his Bachelor of Science
from theAcademy in Annapolis. As a US Navy Ensign he was stationed in the Caribbean and on underwater operations
during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He retired October 1967 after serving aboard several nuclear and diesel submarines; his
last assignment was Manager of the SPUK (Special Projects UK) Program. He and the family also enjoyed a 3-year
assignment in London England as Liaison Officer to Prime Minister Margaret Thacker’s defense staff under the Special
Relationship Agreement between the US and UK. Upon retirement the Navy awarded him a Meritorious Service Metal.
Over a twenty-year period, he and MJ restored from scratch an 1832 and 1882 bi-period house situated on 23 acres in
Scottsville VA, carefully bringing it to Virginia Landmark status and listing on the National Register of Historic Homes.
High Meadows operated as a well-respected successful local landmark country inn, restaurant, vineyard (first pinot noir
grapes grown in VA), and B&B-the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department ofAgriculture and Enology accorded High
Meadows over a dozen Virginia Winery Awards for supporting the state's fledgling wine industry. Over 200,000 US and
international visitors enjoyed hospitality, food, and ambiance at High Meadows Country Inn Restaurant and Vineyard in
southern Albemarle County.
Peter often visited MJ on her USAID/US State Department international foreign advisory assignments. His friendly smile
and love of adventure provided an additional positive dimension to her work with local counterparts.
Education is key. Peter and MJ partnered to provide scholarships to several young Easter European women, recent
graduates of Bulgaria’s public school system to attend MJ’sAlma Mater Furman University. In 2015 together they also
funded and constructed Baba School, a K-12 school located in Bamyan, Afghanistan where girls and boys attend class
together high in the Hindu Kush Mountains-Marco Polo’s “roof of the world”. The school is powered by solar energy
panels-first "green" school in the country. Baba School opened with 25 students; it is now self-sustaining with over 400
students. Although controlled by Taliban, it continues to educate students; in an unusual twist girl’s older than sixth grade
continue to attend.
After retirement Peter's love of travel took him back to London. In 2007 he and MJ found and maintained a second home
in the North of their favorite city in the world-Hampstead. As well, working with PARSA, the IRC and other non-
governmental organizations, Peter and the family sponsored several Afghan families to evacuateAfghanistan and/or settle
in the US or abroad, often using the US Custom Bureau's Special Immigration Visa (SIV) program. All the children of
MJ’s formerAfghan partner interpreters are now successfully integrated into US culture, have maintained steadyA's, been
accepted to Virginia State Colleges and Universities; some serve in the US Military.
Appreciating and engaging in our local cultural activities, Peter sat on the Board of the Charlottesville Opera; since 2015
the family has supported the Charlottesville Opera and Charlottesville Ballet. After the early 21st C completion of The
Paramount Theatre’s restoration, Peter donated time as a “volunteer”, motivating MJ to become a current board member.
Participation in the arts and learning history often go hand in hand; thus, support of Highland Home of President James
Monroe has long been a passion.
Born between the “greatest generation” and “baby boomers” Peter followed a path of early military service and
dedication, then purposely extended his love to many other interests and activities-gardening, pets, exercise, travel, and
walking-along with music, opera, dance reading, theatre, and history. He had a rich and rewarding long life.