Sebastopol, Ca.

Kumar Christopher Lewis,

former resident of Fayetteville, was killed in Nairobi, Kenya. He was on leave from his job as one of the international coordinators of The Peace Boat, headquartered in Tokyo, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a culture of world peace through cultural exchange

. Kumar is survived in Fayetteville by the Newmark family, his aunt Hamsa, his uncle Moshe, his cousins Hari and Lawrence and his cousin Ananda of Richmond, Va. In northern California, he is survived by his mother, Ischi Lewis, and brother and sister, Chinmaya Lewis and Jyoti Lewis.

Kumar attended school in Fayetteville before moving with his family back to California to attend high school. He graduated with honors from the University of California at Santa Cruz while also studying in Ghana, Africa. In 2000, he moved to Tokyo to teach and later accepted a position with The Peace Boat organization that took him on four sea voyages around the world.

A descendent of Meriwether Lewis, the great American explorer, Kumar Christopher Lewis also had a spirit for adventure; as an ambassador of peace, he touched the lives of thousands of people throughout the world. Kumar was devoted to learning about different cultures and establishing international relationships, he was also a passionate musician and advocate of social justice committed to alleviating human suffering. He was in Kenya to play music and deliver humanitarian aid. Kumar was a light unto this world. He is sorely missed by his family and everyone who knew him. To learn more about Kumar’s life and/or contribute to the site with stories, pictures, condolences or memorial funds, please visit www. kumarlewis. com. A family memorial service will be held in Sebastopol, Calif., on April 11, 2006 which would have been Kumar’s 31 st birthday.