Peter was born in Minot, North Dakota in January 1940, and spent his formative years in his parents' hometown of Adams, Minnesota. His father was a Civil Engineer and the family moved frequently. In addition to Sacred Heart School in Adams, he also attended secondary schools in Nebraska and Maryland. Following his father’s career path, he obtained an undergraduate degree in engineering from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree from George Wasington University.

One of his first summer jobs in high school was on a survey team laying out the George Washington Parkway in Washington DC. After college, he worked as a civil and structural engineer for the US Department of Navy in Washington DC for almost a decade. It was during this time that Peter married his lifelong love Jerusha Buell Robbins.

1971, he was appointed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) international staff as a civil engineering advisor. He and Jerusha spent five years in Brussels, Belgium on this assignment. Upon his return to Washington DC, he accepted a Foreign Service Officer structural engineering position with the Overseas Buildings Office of the US State Department which has responsibility for design, construction, and maintenance of all embassies and consulates in over 150 countries. He spent over 25 years with this organization, initially traveling overseas very frequently. His last position was at the highest civilian level in the US Government Senior Executive Service. He retired in September 2001.

In retirement, Peter took graduate courses at the University of Maryland College Park campus in Architecture and Engineering. He was a season ticket holder for University of Maryland football and basketball. He was a registered Professional Engineer, a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and a lifetime member of the Association of Military Engineers.

In 2015, after 50 plus years living in Bethesda Maryland, Peter and Jerusha relocated to Edenton to be close to family. Peter assisted Jerusha with her dog training and dog boarding. Peter was very fond of the many Border Collies, Norwich Terriers, Papillons that he and Jerusha personally had, all of whom enhanced their lives. He enjoyed swimming and biking, especially, and was an active gym member in Bethesda and Edenton. Peter and Jerusha celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in August of this year – and their years of traveling all over the world experiencing diverse cultures.

Peter is survived by his beloved wife Jerusha, brother George, sister-in-law Toni, nephews Kenneth Gurvin (Karen), Sam Robison (Mona), Chris (Michele) and David (Amanda) Robbins and their children; nieces Amelia (Jeremy Schultz) and Katie (Scot Hebel) and their children Peter is now reunited with his parents, Palmer and Regina Krebsbach Gurvin, sister Anne Jeanne Gurvin, and brother Richard Gurvin. Peter’s interment will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery Adams, Minnesota in the family plot.