AUGUST, DR. IRWIN Dr. Irwin August, 86, passed peacefully in his sleep Monday morning, June 19th, 2016. He was born December 12th, 1929 in Chicago, IL to Carl August of Wisconsin and Lena Siegel of Buffalo, NY. He is survived by his loving devoted wife Barbara August of Madison, CT, his beloved son, Matthew August, also of Madison, CT, and his sweet loyal Cockapoo Gigi, who was always at his side and will certainly miss him and the many scraps he could not be prevented from tossing her way. Irwin received his B.A. in Education from the University of Illinois, and then his Ed.D. from NYU. He taught physical education, health, math, science, and history and coached Cross Country and several other sports for over 20 years at Wheatley High School on Long Island, where he was inducted to the hall of fame for his excellence as a Cross Country coach in 2004. Never one to remain sedentary, in 1985, at 56, Irwin retired from teaching and coaching and began his Pre-Med education at the University of Colorado in Denver. He went on to receive his D.O. from the University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, ME in 1992. For the past 10 years Dr. August operated a private psychiatric counseling practice in Westbrook, CT and Fall River, MA. He specialized in treating patients with serious opiate addictions, and was lucky enough to work alongside his wife Barbara, who acted as office manager for the past few years, and joined him in his lifelong dedication to helping others. Friends family and anyone else who wishes to pay respects to Irwin and his family may attend the wake on Friday, June 24th from 4pm to 8pm at the Swan Funeral Home, 825 Boston Post Rd, Madison, CT 06443, and the funeral service on Saturday, June 25th at 10am at St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church, 24 Academy St, Madison, CT 06443.

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Published by The New Haven Register from Jun. 23 to Jun. 24, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for IRWIN AUGUST

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19 Entries

james sackett

March 19, 2019

I have actually just learned of the passing of Irwin. I can call him by his first name, because I was his roommate during his first year of med school when he lived with me in Biddeford, Hills Beach Road, right on the water. I was from Colorado so we had lots to talk about. I was a second year and he was just starting. I cannot tell you how hard it is to start med school after 50, but believe me it is nearly undoable. He would come home from school at 5 PM, go to bed, and get up at 12 or 1 in the morning to study until dawn, then get it that run on the beach before class. He persevered through just hard work and personality. He made the world a better place.

Gideon

September 2, 2017

I don't know why I just looked up dr. August today. It's September II 2016. He was my gym teacher at Wheatley High School. He used to come early in the morning and I would see him running. I never joined his cross country team but he got me interested in running in high school. I was always impressed by his interest in health and physical fitness. A good man

James

March 7, 2017

God bless you doc

Denise Mollica

October 29, 2016

Barbara & Matt: Sorry for your loss. He was truley a great man who helped so many. I was lucky enough to work with him when he had his practice in Stratford Ct. He will be missed. Denise Mollica

Sheldon A

August 30, 2016

- I was a member of the PE staff at Wheatley for many years along with Irwin - we were also personal friends and shared many social occasions - at one time we bought a "fixer upper" and worked together on that along with our wives - he was as fine a coach as I can remember, respected by his teams and opponents - already I can hear angels gasping for breath, being whipped in to shape in preparation for the next match with the Devil - Augie was an important part of my life -I am sorry that he is gone - please accept my deepest condolences -

Trish Colvin-Costanza

August 20, 2016

Dear Aunt Barbara & Cousin Matt,

Our life journey's are filled with glorious moments that truly provide loving impact experiences. Uncle Irwin, from the moment he entered my life, instilled honor, dedication and unlimited love. Unification for this family was enhanced from that beautiful wedding...and it always continued with his presence. A small conversation from Uncle Irwin added another brick in the foundation. Moments is Colorado, Maine, Long Island and Madison are filled with monumental blessings. Especially as a history teacher, field hockey coach, and counselor his advice provided my teams and students tremendous success.

My gratitude from God is continually filled with the true light from Irwin August.

Love Always,

Trish

Tim Boland

July 24, 2016

When I look back at high school at Wheatley, one person, one MAN, was the most memorable and influential: Coach August. Dr. August. I can't count the number of times I have mentioned his name and his lasting influence on me in the near fifty years since graduation. No one taught me better than him, motivated me more to give 110% in everything I do. That it wasn't how gifted you were that made a difference, but how much effort and sacrifice you needed to make to excel and dream big. How much you were willing to outwork others. I have counseled my children according to the credo that I learned from Dr. August. He was an inspiration way back then and continues to be a motivation in my later age to give of myself fully in everything I do. May his own family know that his extended family of former students and athletes revere him to this day. May his family accept my deepest condolences and know that it was my honor and divine luck to have fallen under his sphere of guidance and caring and love of students.
Tim Boland (Class of '67)
Montreal, Canada

David Kurman

July 18, 2016

Not a day goes by without my thinking of Dr. August. As Wheatley cross-country coach, he wanted his team to be well-hydrated and told us, "Men, I don't want you to pass a water fountain without drinking from it." Coach named me team captain in 1970 and wrote to the Boston Athletic Association in 1971 to get me entered into the Boston Marathon. Forty-five years and 124 marathons later, I'm still running and still drinking from every water fountain I pass. Gonna miss you, Coach.

Rick Lowenthal

July 17, 2016

He believed in others long before they believed in themselves.
RIP Coach

David Berwald

July 17, 2016

I just learned about the passing of Dr. August. I am sure that I am among the many of his former students who can say that he was one of those very few teachers whose involvement really changed our lives. At Wheatley almost 50 years ago he coached me for multiple years in Wrestling and Physical Fitness. As the captain of our football team he also welcomed me at his cross country camp in Pennsylvania. Unlike any other teacher at Wheatley he taught me that I could exert myself to do so much more than I ever thought possible. That the pain invested would be temporary and worth it. In those days he was a often "a man of few words", but he was less spare in my 1970 senior year book: "Ours has been a relationship more than student-teacher. Your sense of humor and intelligence have made you stand out. Good luck. Irwin August."

After high school I went on to study physics and earned my PhD in engineering at age 25. It was hard, but not as hard as junior high wrestling or the fitness team. Over the years I have thought and talked about Dr. August many times. I regret not having made the effort to catch up with him in recent years as he was setting new examples in his new career. He was a unique individual who will be missed.

Dave Berwald, Wheatley '70

gary adelman

July 12, 2016

I will always remember Irwin as a very kind and gentle soul who had tremendous integrity. So many people trusted him because he never compromised his values and always remained true to what he believed in. God bless you Irwin.

Gary Matthesen

July 12, 2016

Dear Barbara and family,
I was so saddened to hear of the passing of Dr August. He was a man who was an adult authority figure in High School, but you know he would look out for you as a good friend and mentor if necessary. In his quiet strong way he led by example with his morning workouts in the gym. He would pass on to us the motivation to push ourselves to become stronger and more competitive. Being on the fitness teams of '66, '67 and '68 I believe I may have been the youngest to have made a team mostly made up of Seniors. I would work hard in order to please him and although he never made a show of it, you knew he was proud. Would you believe we would sometimes run through the entire fitness test 5 or 6 times in an afternoon, with rest only between each cycle, not between events. You would drop down from squat thrusts right into beginning push ups! Nobody complained, we just did it!
In my senior year, '68 he told us he would not be coaching. He was getting his doctorate degree and education was more important then even the team he loved to push to national competition every year. This hurt, but was truly an important lesson he taught, of the value of education.
I am so amazed that he went on to get his Doctorate in Psychiatry, and worked in Rehab. I became an Occupational Therapist and for a time also worked in drug and alcohol rehab, being the supervisor of the activities department.
I had heard after high school Dr. August was living in Long Beach. I always had hoped I would run into him someday, perhaps jogging on the boardwalk, while I got into beach volleyball.
I thank you for sharing him with us, where we learned of motivation, hard work and the value of education. He was one of the Wheatley teachers I admired most, and probably my number one memory.

Paul Ingrassia

July 12, 2016

Dr August was one of the most influential people in my life. As a young teen he was my coach and surrogate father who taught me to always be my best and to think outside the box to be who I could be. Not experienced in cross country he brought a small school to become the best team in the state for my last 3 years in high school in only his second year as coach. Though not a great competitor I was able to win the state championship because of his gentle but firm hand. I am truly grateful that a man like this was in my life at a time I was lost with no direction. He made a major impact on my whole life andhas a part in any success I may have had throughout the years. He will always be remembered and hold a special place in my heart.
Paul Ingrassia

Mike Tierney

July 5, 2016

A wonderful man who had such an impact on me. Your generosity and affection will be missed. You brought so much good to so many people that will always remember you. We love you and will remember all you did for all of us.

Jean Tierney Donaldson

July 4, 2016

I was truly blessed to have an Uncle like Irwin. Never judgmental and always genuinely interested in everything I did or had to say, I valued his advice. When he said something, people listened. He had so much wisdom and presence it was very apparent when he was with you. I hope to live my life to fullest, to have the sense of peace and self awareness that Irwin had. It is something we should all strive to attain. It is why he was such a great doctor, father, husband and uncle. We love you!

July 1, 2016

Please accept my condolences. Our Creator is aware of and feels our emotional pain.
"I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears." ~ 2 Kings 20:5

Susan Hutton

June 24, 2016

Barbara and Matt: I will always remember Irwin as a kind,caring man who loved helping others. When I was in a very dark place in my life Irwin helped me see light again. Irwin is now in God' light, till we meet again my friend.

Katie Krause

June 23, 2016

Barbara and Matt: We will always remember Irwin as a kind and patient man who loved to tell stories. We were lucky to have such great neighbors when we moved to Madison, CT. We send our heartfelt sympathy to you both. Irwin touched many lives in a positive way and that is a great legacy to leave behind.

Jim, Katie and Jon Krause

June 23, 2016

May GOD' loving kindness comfort you and help you through this sad time.
PSALMS 29:11

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