Kenneth Thomas Austin

1932 - 2016

Kenneth Thomas Austin

AGE: 84 • formerly of Bridgewater

Kenneth Thomas Austin, "Ken", 84 of Lakewood Ranch, Florida (formerly of Bridgewater, New Jersey) passed away peacefully Wednesday November 30th, 2016 at his home. Ken was born on June 18th, 1932 in Woodside Queens, New York to Thomas and Sarah Austin. He graduated from Xavier High School in Manhattan and then Fordham University, in Bronx NY. He attended the Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia PA. He served as a Captain in the Air Force for 4 years. On December 11, 1954, he married the former Kathleen Marie Jones. Ken was an entrepreneur who founded HouseMaster Home Inspections. HouseMaster was the first company to franchise in the home inspection industry and one of the most successful firms of its kind. He helped hundreds of inspiring entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership through HouseMaster. Ken Austin was a founder of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®), the industry's most respected trade association and the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI®), a state approved home inspection training organization. He is known for pioneering the concept of home inspections, which were virtually non-existent prior to his founding HouseMaster in 1979. Ken was featured in many news outlets such as the New York Times, NBC's Nightline, CNN and CNBC to name a few. After retiring from HouseMaster, he authored several books including Murder by Accident and Razing Your Parents.

Ken was a beloved Husband, Father and Pop Pop and his favorite past time was spending time with his family and grandchildren. Ken loved to make people laugh, telling infamous jokes, and performing various tricks and illusions.

Ken is survived by his wife Kathleen, three daughters, Tara (Penza) and her husband Fred, Kathleen (Kuhn) and her husband Mike, Tricia (Tangradi) and her husband Joe. He is also survived by his 9 grandchildren; Nicole (Penza) McCarthy and her husband Ryan, Alex Penza, Matthew Penza, Michael Kuhn, Ryan Kuhn, Anneliese Austin, Katie Tangradi, Patrick Tangradi and Jack Tangradi. He is also survived his sisters Cathy Lavin and Mary Austin, step sisters, Madelyn DiMugno, Helen Farnan, and Judy Farnan well as, many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Sarah, his son Brian Austin, his step mother Helen, his sister Margie Mannix, his brother-in-law John Mannix, his brother-in-law Peter Lavin, his brother-in-law William Farnan and, his niece Amy (Farnan) Green.

Memorial Services will be held on December 9th, 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church 12905 E State Road Rte. 70, Lakewood Ranch, Fla. A luncheon will follow the service.

Another celebration of Ken's life will be held in New Hope, PA on January 13th 2017, 11:00 AM at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. A luncheon will follow the service. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to Hospice. http://tidewellhospice.org/welcome/donors/donate-now.