Dr. Michael E. Austin

Dr. Michael Edward Austin was born February 13, 1940 in Brockton, Massachusetts. He died unexpectedly on February 7, 2011 just shy of his 71st birthday. He was the son of the late Raymond Francis Austin and the late Madeline Catherine Fitzgerald. As a youngster Michael enjoyed writing and publishing, and he started a weekly newspaper at Weymouth High called The Reflector. He and his friends also produced the only Junior Class yearbook published at Weymouth High. He was Camera Club President, Key Club Treasurer, and Math Club President. Harvard University awarded him the Harvard Book Award, and he was class Valedictorian. After several offers, he decided to attend Notre Dame since they offered him a full tuition four-year scholarship. There in South Bend, he met his future wife of fifty years, Patricia Ann Biebuyck. They became engaged after three weeks and married in the Log Chapel at the Notre Dame campus. It was at Notre Dame he became devout in his love of the Catholic Church and discovered a faith that would last a lifetime. He was ranked first among 308 engineering students, and he ranked 2nd in the Class of 1961 behind an English major. He earned his B.S. in Electricial Engineering graduating Maxima Cum Laude. While working his way through Graduate school, Michael and his wife Pat had their first three children. After earning his Masters, he graduated in 1967 from M.I.T. with a Sc.D. in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, he took an overseas assignment to Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. There he made radar measurements of reentry physics of Ballistic Missiles launched from California. Michael enjoyed Kwajalein very much, taking up snorkeling and scuba diving, among many other activities. After a four-year tour and two more children, the family relocated to Concord, Massachusetts and Michael continued to work for M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory. In 1974, when his eldest son asked for help to create a family tree, Michaels interest in genealogy was sparked. Since then, he and his wife published newsletters, books, and created the organization Austin Families Genealogical Society complete with a website. He also held conventions with other members to further Austin-Austen research in and out of the United States. Michael also took his family back to Kwajalein for two more tours (1975-1977) where his built his first home computer, took up tennis, built an eighty-gallon octagonal fish tank and caught an octopus for a pet. The next tour was 1983-1990, where he enjoyed more of the laid back Kwajalein lifestyle. When back in the states, Michael and his family enjoyed camping in their Airstream, and having many amazing vacations. His last one was taken this past summer with all his children and their spouses to Italy to celebrate his fiftieth anniversary. Michael was known for being extremely generous and would often on a whim invite people out to do something fun and exciting. He loved creating family traditions, completing complicated projects, and keeping his mind and body active. Over the years he has built many items woodworking, learned how to square dance, made a darkroom for photography, participated in sports and enjoyed watching them as well (especially Notre Dame football). He has seen countless plays, musicals, museums, and historical monuments. He enjoyed board games, books, crosswords, ski trips, movies, road trips, and amusements. He had a passion to learn all he could about the Roman Empire and in general had a love of lifelong learning. He always kept up with the latest technology and news. Even after losing three of his six children tragically, he was upbeat and had quirky side. He enjoying doing silly things such as buying a life size cheetah in New York and moving it around in the park to see peoples reactions, or getting a mannequin to don his newly acquired Centurian outfit. He loved friends and family and spending time with them was the most important thing to him. He was active in Holy Family Church in Concord, loved to throw parties, go out to eat, and otherwise be active. He wanted everyone to live to their fullest potential and had high expectations. He was such an organized person that he could tell you via flow chart what was spent on Christmas twenty years ago and what items were purchased. He had so much left on his to-do-list and on his bucket list. We hope that over the years we can help cross some of them off that list. Michael was truly one of a kind and will be terribly missed. He was the soulmate, love and home of his wife Patricia Ann Biebuyck. He was the beloved father of Janice Austin (wife of Mark) of Rockland, MA, Glenn Austin and his wife Donna of Mountain Home, Idaho, Cheryl Riordan and her husband Tim of Concord, MA, Melissa Austin and her fianc Matthew Tennyson, of San Diego, CA. He was also the father of the late Mark Edward Austin, Dianne Elizabeth Austin, and Charles Raymond Austin. He leaves behind eight grandchildren. Christopher, Anika, Timothy, and Rebekah Austin all of Mountain Home Idaho, Alicia and Michael Akusis, both of Concord, MA and Samantha Simpson of Concord, MA. He will be missed by many good neighbors, friends, and family. Funeral was held on Saturday, February 12th from the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, CONCORD CENTER at 8:30 AM followed by a funeral Mass in Holy Family Parish, Monument Square, Concord Center at 9:30 AM. Interment was in St. Bernards Cemetery, Concord. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Salvation Army, Attn: Development Office, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02021 or to Boston Rescue Mission, P. O. Box 120069, Boston, MA 02112. Arrangements are under the care of Susan M. Dee and Charles W. Dee, Jr., Directors, Dee Funeral Home of Concord. For online guest book, visit www.deefuneralhome.com.