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The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) is mourning the loss of Peter Sawires, a beloved and widely respected former colleague and a dear friend to many of the organization’s leaders and staff members. Sawires died on August 14 at age 39.

He worked in the organization’s health unit until 2002, helping to create the first-ever National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence, helping to manage the federally-funded National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence during some of its formative years, and writing policy papers, protocols, clinical tools and other materials that helped transform the nation’s health care response to violence and saved countless lives.

“Peter was a brilliant and creative thinker, an insightful writer, a talented strategist, and a generous and thoughtful colleague,” said FVPF Senior Vice President Debbie Lee, who worked closely with Sawires for many years. “He had strong views and a big personality, and nobody ever cared more passionately about this work. Peter had a huge impact on health policy regarding domestic violence in this country. Already we miss him terribly. He will remain in our hearts forever.”

After leaving the Family Violence Prevention Fund, Sawires worked at the Commonwealth Fund and Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health, but he retained close ties to the FVPF. He was honored at the 2007 Health Conference with its Advocate and Medical Educator Award.

The Sawires family has set up a memorial fund in Peter’s name at the Family Violence Prevention Fund. Checks can be sent to: