AUSTIN CHRISTOPHER SPICER PHILP

Remembering Austin

It is with profound grief that we write to remember our beautiful boy, Austin Christopher Spicer Philp, who passed from this world on May 15. He was 28 years old. Beloved son of Paul Philp and Michele Spicer; loving rascal brother to Meaghan; dear grandson to Philip and Joanne Spicer; and forever pal to his beloved dog, the feisty Leonardo, his off leash 'brobeans'.

Austin was a passionate, beautiful and sensitive soul. He was permeable to the world, and he was open to its mystery and beauty. His senses were so finely tuned to everything around him, and he felt everything deeply. With this came much beauty and also much suffering. Austin persevered through many challenges. He was brave, courageous and deeply kind.

Austin was compassionate beyond his years and soft to the world. He knew what it was to think differently. Austin would give a stranger with no shoes, his shoes. He would speak to people directly who were seeking a cigarette, a cup of coffee, or some other momentary connection and he would offer what he could. He held people. He was warm. He was good.

Austin was a very creative person and a gifted photographer. He viewed the world in a uniquely poetic way, and he was attuned to its rhythms and music - this found expression through his photography, piano compositions, stylish fashion sense, love and humour. His photography work was extraordinarily beautiful, and a craft that he continued to refine.

Austin loved music and the written word, and he often shared quotes and songs of inspiration and beauty. Among those he shared, the following captures his essence:

I wish you endless dreams and the furious desire to realize some of them. I wish you to love what must be loved, and to forget what must be forgotten. I wish you passions. I wish you silences. I wish you birdsongs as you wake up and children's laughter. I wish you to respect the differences of others, because the worth and virtues of each person often remain to be discovered. I wish you to resist the stagnation, the indifference, and the negative values of our time. I wish you at last to never give up the search, for adventure, life, love. For life is a wonderful adventure and no reasonable person should give it up without a tough fight. I wish you above all to be yourself, proud of being and happy, for happiness is our true destiny. // Jacques Brel.

Around the age of nine, Austin began to make music at the piano, as though capturing the sounds from out of nowhere. His little fingers on the keyboard took a short piece I had written as a teenager and kept playing beyond the final note to grow it into something beyond Magical. When I sat beside him on the piano bench in awe telling him it was so beautiful and asking how he did that, he said, "You can do it too, Mom. You just play the next note." This innocence, curiosity and openness to life will guide our way.

Austin brought many gifts to the lives of those he touched. We are grateful to those who were present in his life with love, respect, kindness and care. Take care of your hearts - and dance. How Austin loved to dance.

There will be an intimate celebration of Austin's life held in the coming months. We know that Austin would encourage and appreciate thoughtful and loving conversations about mental health awareness, and donations to causes supporting mental health and animal rescue.

To our dear beautiful Austin, we love you dearly and we miss you. Thank you for the gift of your life. Thank you for your smiles. Thank you for your love. What a privilege to have walked through the world with you and to love you. We are devastated by your loss. You will live on inside of us and we will strive to keep our hearts open to the world. We know that you would want this for everyone.

May you travel on angel's wings to a place of deep peace and beauty and find freedom there.

We love you.