John Cecil Austin

John C. Austin, 93, died peacefully after short illness.
He was pre-deceased by his daughter Susanne and is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years Mary "Scottie" Lee Austin, two sons Michael (and his wife Lisa Smith) of Santa Fe, NM and Doug (and his wife Lesley) of King & Queen County, VA, his three grandchildren: Sam, Caleb (and his wife Rose), and Indigo, and his great-grandson August, son of Caleb and Rose.
Austin attended Bowdoin College and graduated from Tufts University (in connection with the Museum of Fine Arts Boston) with a BFA, and did his graduate work at the Courtauld Institute of the University of London and at the Victorian and Albert Museum.
On returning from London, Austin was hired by Colonial Williamsburg as a Curatorial Assistant and eventually became the first specialist curator at that institution – Curator of Ceramics and Glass. Although he retained that title throughout his professional life, he rose to the Director level and at his retirement, held the title of Senior Curator. After retirement he was granted the honorary title of Curator Emeritus of Ceramics and Glass. Austin prepared two books on the ceramics at Colonial Williamsburg, Chelsea Porcelain at Williamsburg and British Delft at Williamsburg, and curated a traveling exhibition of Williamsburg's delft collection for three years after his retirement.
Austin was the last surviving member of the ten museum curators and collectors who founded the American Ceramic Circle in 1970. He was a perpetual member of the board and served two terms as president and seven years as its chairman. On retirement Austin was granted the title of Chairman Emeritus. He was an honorary member of several regional ceramic societies across the country.
In his retirement, Austin researched and collected the works of twentieth century ceramic designer and potter, J. Palin Thorley. He published his preliminary findings in two issues in the annual publication, Ceramics in America, exhibited Thorley's wares in major museums and lectured on the subject. Austin, who had been granted at Thorley's death his personal and business papers, donated them, some ceramic pieces and his other objects, as a collection to the Rare Manuscript department of the Swem library at the College of William and Mary, with the understanding it will remain thus.
Scottie and John traveled around the world, with a preference to "third world" countries. Their love of nature instigated safaris in Kenya, Malaysia/Borneo, the Galapagos Islands, the Panda area of China and the condors in Peru. John in his travelog states... "sat on rocks and saw the condors soaring back and forth, often below us. Great morning." They also loved camping and camped all over Mexico and the United States.
Locally, Austin was active in many of the arts-oriented organizations and served on the board of several of them. He also a member of the Arts Commission for the City of Williamsburg.
John and Scottie have been members of Bruton Parish Church since their arrival in Williamsburg in 1959 – except for four years when they left to help form the then St. Martin's Mission. He served on the vestry in both churches and was junior warden at Bruton. He also was involved in many other church activities.
A memorial service will be held at Bruton Parish Church on July 19th, 2025 at 11:00AM with interment in the church yard followed by a reception that will be held at the Custis House. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John, please visit our floral store.