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Toni D. Austin-Watt

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Rutgers University

Toni Austin-Watt Obituary

Toni D. Austin-Watt

AGE: 63 • Plainfield

Toni D. Austin-Watt, 63, passed away on Wednesday (May 2, 2012) at her home in Plainfield. Born in Richmond, Virginia, she moved to Plainfield many years ago. Ms. Austin earned her Master's Degree in Science Education from Rutgers University and worked as a teacher in the Plainfield Public Schools for over 30 years. She most recently worked at New Brunswick Health and Science High School. She was a member of the AKA Sorority and the American Chemical Society.

Surviving are her son, Teal Austin Watt; her daughter, Garnett White Jackson; her niece Randi Austin; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The Funeral will be on Tuesday 10 AM at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Park Ave., South Plainfield. Visitation will be at the church on Monday from 7 - 9 PM. Arrangements are by Memorial Funeral Home in Fanwood. For additional information or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.fanwoodmemorial.com. If you would like to send flowers, please send them to 1084 Hillside Ave, Plainfield, NJ 07060. If you would like to make donations to the American Cancer Society in honor of Ms. Toni Austin-Watt, please click the following link: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Toni.Watt.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Courier News from May 5 to May 6, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Toni Austin-Watt

23 Entries

Inez Ruiz-White

June 5, 2023

Ms. Watt. You introduced me to science. You were the first to tell me about what a PhD was. Today I am scientist with a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. Thank you for being my motivation. You were a GREAT teacher. I am forever grateful.

linda

January 21, 2023

I have been trying to find Ms. Watt to thank her for the impact she made in my life. I wish I had known... I would have loved to say thank you. She was more than a teacher. She motivated me to dream and dream big. She personally drove me to Rutgers so I could experience the unimaginable world of DNA science. Today when I stand among my students I try to make sure they feel the way Ms. Watt would make me feel: valued, important and teachable. Reader if you can be anything today, try to be like Ms. Toni Watt. Someone who people are still looking for over 10 years after you are gone...just to surprise you with gratitude.

Andre Oliver

March 4, 2021

Today...I decided to look up my favorite teacher...Mrs. Watt...just to see how she was doing...to reach out, to reach back and say thank you. I'm heart broken to learn the news 9 years later. I always wanted to tell her how instrumental she was in my life as a whole. You will live on forever in hearts of many...and my own children.

Angee Rivera

May 12, 2012

I just realize who this was and Mrs. Watt was a nice teacher and may she R.I. H.

Cheyenne A. Bowe

May 12, 2012

Yet another member of our PHS family has been called Home...If it were not for Ms. Watt's wit, candor, and sassiness in dealing with us students---well, chemistry class would not have been the comedy hour that it was back then (smile). Rest easy, Ms. Watt.

Deborah Cox

May 10, 2012

It was a pleasure to know Mrs Wyatt during my high school days RIP

Deborah Cox

May 10, 2012

Mrs Wyatt was a pleasure to know during my high school days rip Mrs Wyatt

Mary (Evans) Howell

May 10, 2012

As I read over the many comments about Toni, it made me a little less sad. I seem to be the only one who left a comment who knew her BEFORE she became the outstanding teacher she is spoken of here. Toni and I lived on the same street growing up and we used to walk home from school together quite often. Whether our parents thought it was great exercise or not, I cannot say, but we did not get bussed to school. Did I mention our school was not just around the corner? She was my friend and I never told her this but I always thought she had the most gorgeous skin tone of anyone I had ever met. She shared things with me and she had a vivid imagination. Believe it or not, she taught me to eat a concoction known as a Peanut Butter and Mayonnaise sandwich! To this day I always think of her when I eat it now. She was always introducing me to some strange food combination. Perhaps that was the sign of the budding Chemistry instructor she would become later in life. Another one of our elementary school classmates was trying to call me to tell me she had passed but I was in the midst of celebrating my mom's 91st birthday, so I did not get the info until the day after her burial. So as I perused the obits and found hers, it made my heart glad to know she had accomplished so much and touched so many lives. I, too, work with the school system and that is the legacy all educators want to leave at the end of the day- the number of lives we have touched in a positive way. Over the years I wondered how Toni was doing and where she lived because over the years one does lose touch. Now I don't have to wonder where Toni is or how she is doing.

Queen Wheeler

May 10, 2012

Ms Watt, you were one of my favorite teachers at PHS...I know i am not the only one who shares these sentiments... A great woman is laid to rest.. You are loved

Charles Gillon

May 10, 2012

Ms. Watt was a very good teacher, and confidante to many of the class of 1975.

She also was a great contributor to her community and one of God's bright lights, she will be missed dearly.

May God Bless and keep you.

Kevin

May 9, 2012

Ms. Watt is and will always be my favorite teacher. She was a wonderful person who was able to get thru to any student weather you were interested in science or subjects. She guided you as well as taught you about life. I will miss her dearly.

William Kelly

May 8, 2012

God called home a wonderful women, and teacher..

From the Staff of Mimms Funeral Home

May 8, 2012

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

Kevin Vaughan

May 7, 2012

My deepest condolences to the family. Ms. Watt was determined to make an engineer out of me. She was tough. I needed that. She should me what it took to compete in science fairs and to represent Plainfield well. She had a lot of spunk. No nonsense. She will be missed!

Peggy Page

May 7, 2012

My heartfelt condolences to the Austin-Watt Family. I had the privilege of being her student in high school; and have fond memories of her. Firm, but fair. She won't be forgotten.

Marilyn Vick

May 7, 2012

I had the pleasure of working with Toni for a few years. She was a sweet, kind and caring woman. She took time to speak with my daughter about her college choices and career goals while battling this sickness. Toni loved teaching and she loved all students. She will be greatly missed. The world has lost a truly remarkable woman, teacher, mother and friend.
Rest in Peace Toni.

May 7, 2012

Ms. Watt was my teacher the first year she came to Plainfield High School. She motivated and encouraged her students with "firm" love. I appreciate her helping to make science practical. She was a strong role model for us all. Sorry for your loss! She has left her mark on the world via her family and former students!

Wilma Bridget-Scott, PT
Springfield, VA

Johnetta Scott

May 7, 2012

My sincerest condolences to the Austin-Watt family. Although I never had a class with her as teacher; Mrs. Watt introduced me to the wonderful world of Science Fairs in our after school science club! As a fairly shy teenager, it was under her tutorage that I "developed" the scientific method well enough to place 1st at the Steven's Tech Science Fair in '86. Mrs. Watt taught me to work hard and prepare well for success. I often remembered her words of encouragement throughout my educational experence as I went on to earn my Bachelors degree in Applied Physics from Rutgers and my certification in mainframe programming from Chubb. I really appreciate everything that Mrs. Watt taught me, she will be missed and I will never forget her.

Crystal (Price) Reynolds

May 6, 2012

Mrs. Watt was my Chemistry teacher in my junior year at PHS. I'll never forget how she diligently encouraged her students (be they future scientists or not) to understand the importance of natural science; she even found a way to link Chemistry to the mini-series "Roots," explaining how heredity plays an integral part in our appearance and physiological illness such as Sickle Cell and Tay Sachs disease. She wanted me to take Physics in my senior year, and when I asked why (as I wanted to be an attorney) she stated, "What makes you think you'll never have a physicist as a client?" I deeply respected her, and was so saddened to hear she passed away last week. She will be deeply missed by all she touched.

Robin Leigh

May 6, 2012

Thank you for teaching me to be a stronger person simply by forcing me to look in your eyes when we spoke. I'm thankful to have been one of your students. You made Science cool for an English lover.

Jeneba Abass-Shereef

May 6, 2012

R.I.P. Ms. Toni Austin ....phenomenal teacher...I learned so much from working in the lab with her. She constantly pushed me to question // understand the meaning behind everything I did in the lab- making me a better researcher...But what she really taught me was that everything you do should have meaning...Although you wont be physically in the lab with me this summer...the lessons I've learned from you- I shall never forgetâ™¥

Robyn (Watkins) Al-Khabir

May 5, 2012

R I H Ms.Watt you will be missed

Karen Johnson Slaton

May 5, 2012

Ms. Watt was one of my favorite teachers at PHS, as well as a mentor and friend of our family. We are deeply saddened by her passing and will keep her loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.

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