1936
Arthur
2024
Arthur "Art" Austin
September 21, 1936 — August 6, 2024
Arthur Austin Obituary
Arthur Thomas Austin (Art), 87, passed away peacefully after a brief illness. Art was born in the Greenville section of Smithfield, RI, on September 21, 1936, to Martin T. Austin and Cecelia Connetti Austin. His love of gardening and outdoor work began at a young age working in his uncle’s apple orchards. He graduated from North Providence High School in 1954. Art married his first wife, Nancy Jean Turner in August 1957.
After obtaining work at Pratt and Whitney, Art and Nancy moved to Columbia, CT in 1958 where they raised their three sons, Stephen (Beverly), James (Theresa) and Peter. Stephen and Beverly blessed Art with grandchildren, Katelyn and Jeffrey. Additional blessings occurred when Jim and Terrie welcomed Jose and Danny to the family. Art did not shy away from hard work and provided for his family; at times taking on part-time work in addition to obtaining an Associate Degree in Science from Charter Oak College. Being an avid hockey fan, Art also found the time to help form and coach his sons’ Hockey League. Art was very active in the Columbia Congregational Church, serving on many committees and volunteering on many church projects.
After the passing of Nancy Jean in 1993, Art was blessed to marry Nancy Macaulay in June 1995. With this union came the blending of two families, including Nancy’s daughters, Dawn Salan (Joe) and their sons Joshua and Jack and Jill Levasseur (Paul) and their sons, Sean and Benjamin.
More blending of families occurred 4 years after Nancy’s passing in 2011 when Art was again blessed to marry his present wife, Patricia Howard Austin, on August 1, 2015. Pat’s son, Stephen (Carrie) and their children, Rory, Lauren and Caroline as well as daughter, Torrie Phillips (Bryan) and their children, Rowan and Ruby, rounded out the family.
Upon retiring in 1997, Art joined the Columbia Lions Club where their “We Serve” motto exemplified his support of service to those in need. During his tenure as Lions President, Art established the Columbia Leo Club and was the Leo adviser for the first two years of its existence. Art especially enjoyed the annual Lions 4th of July parade where he could be seen driving the float he and others worked on or passing out candy.
Art enjoyed traveling and exploring the world. Hiking the Great Wall of China was an adventure he never envisioned as a young boy growing up in Smithfield. Woodcarving, especially of shore birds, became a retirement passion. Art was a member of the Beckish Senior Center Columbia Carvers group and the Mystic Carvers.
In 2016 Art and Pat built a home in Columbia where Art’s love of gardening and working with stones inspired him to build beautiful walkways throughout their backyard oasis that was showcased in Columbia’s Historical Society Garden Tour in 2022.
In 2023 Art and Pat sold their beloved home when the opportunity arose to move to a Creamery Brook Cottage in Brooklyn, CT, an independent living facility. Once there, Art, and a fellow Creamery Brook carver, offered to facilitate carving sessions for the residents and other local carvers. Art continued his gardening work and again took up cribbage which he learned from his grandfather. He also joined a card-playing group which challenged his excellent math skills. Art and Pat have enjoyed the camaraderie at Creamery Brook and participating in their activities.
Art leaves behind a legacy of integrity, kindness, quiet humor, and loyalty. Art was very creative and was determined (some might say stubborn) and had the ability to fix anything rather than toss or replace it. He was very happy at home “puttering” on his never-ending projects. He was generous of his time and talents to help out family and friends. Art was known for ending his conversations with “Be good” which is a wonderful motto for us to remember him and to live by.
Besides his parents and two wives, Art also was predeceased by his brother, Martin Austin. Art will also be missed by his beloved cats, Muffin and Zoe.
We welcome all who knew Art to join us at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT on Thursday, August 15th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A celebration of Art’s life will be held on Friday, August 16th at the Columbia Congregational Church, 325 Route 87, Columbia at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Columbia Leo Club, PO Box 1, Columbia, CT 06237 or to your favorite organization dedicated to rescuing animals.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Arthur "Art" Austin, please visit our floral store.
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Arthur Thomas Austin (Art), 87, passed away peacefully after a brief illness. Art was born in the Greenville section of Smithfield, RI, on September 21, 1936, to Martin T. Austin and Cecelia Connetti Austin. His love of gardening and outdoor work began at a young age working in his uncle’s apple orchards. He graduated from North Providence High School in 1954. Art married his first wife, Nancy Jean Turner in August 1957.
After obtaining work at Pratt and Whitney, Art and Nancy moved to Columbia, CT in 1958 where they raised their three sons, Stephen (Beverly), James (Theresa) and Peter. Stephen and Beverly blessed Art with grandchildren, Katelyn and Jeffrey. Additional blessings occurred when Jim and Terrie welcomed Jose and Danny to the family. Art did not shy away from hard work and provided for his family; at times taking on part-time work in addition to obtaining an Associate Degree in Science from Charter Oak College. Being an avid hockey fan, Art also found the time to help form and coach his sons’ Hockey League. Art was very active in the Columbia Congregational Church, serving on many committees and volunteering on many church projects.
After the passing of Nancy Jean in 1993, Art was blessed to marry Nancy Macaulay in June 1995. With this union came the blending of two families, including Nancy’s daughters, Dawn Salan (Joe) and their sons Joshua and Jack and Jill Levasseur (Paul) and their sons, Sean and Benjamin.
More blending of families occurred 4 years after Nancy’s passing in 2011 when Art was again blessed to marry his present wife, Patricia Howard Austin, on August 1, 2015. Pat’s son, Stephen (Carrie) and their children, Rory, Lauren and Caroline as well as daughter, Torrie Phillips (Bryan) and their children, Rowan and Ruby, rounded out the family.
Upon retiring in 1997, Art joined the Columbia Lions Club where their “We Serve” motto exemplified his support of service to those in need. During his tenure as Lions President, Art established the Columbia Leo Club and was the Leo adviser for the first two years of its existence. Art especially enjoyed the annual Lions 4th of July parade where he could be seen driving the float he and others worked on or passing out candy.
Art enjoyed traveling and exploring the world. Hiking the Great Wall of China was an adventure he never envisioned as a young boy growing up in Smithfield. Woodcarving, especially of shore birds, became a retirement passion. Art was a member of the Beckish Senior Center Columbia Carvers group and the Mystic Carvers.
In 2016 Art and Pat built a home in Columbia where Art’s love of gardening and working with stones inspired him to build beautiful walkways throughout their backyard oasis that was showcased in Columbia’s Historical Society Garden Tour in 2022.
In 2023 Art and Pat sold their beloved home when the opportunity arose to move to a Creamery Brook Cottage in Brooklyn, CT, an independent living facility. Once there, Art, and a fellow Creamery Brook carver, offered to facilitate carving sessions for the residents and other local carvers. Art continued his gardening work and again took up cribbage which he learned from his grandfather. He also joined a card-playing group which challenged his excellent math skills. Art and Pat have enjoyed the camaraderie at Creamery Brook and participating in their activities.
Art leaves behind a legacy of integrity, kindness, quiet humor, and loyalty. Art was very creative and was determined (some might say stubborn) and had the ability to fix anything rather than toss or replace it. He was very happy at home “puttering” on his never-ending projects. He was generous of his time and talents to help out family and friends. Art was known for ending his conversations with “Be good” which is a wonderful motto for us to remember him and to live by.
Besides his parents and two wives, Art also was predeceased by his brother, Martin Austin. Art will also be missed by his beloved cats, Muffin and Zoe.
We welcome all who knew Art to join us at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT on Thursday, August 15th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A celebration of Art’s life will be held on Friday, August 16th at the Columbia Congregational Church, 325 Route 87, Columbia at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Columbia Leo Club, PO Box 1, Columbia, CT 06237 or to your favorite organization dedicated to rescuing animals.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Arthur "Art" Austin, please visit our floral store.
Read More
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arthur "Art" Austin, please visit our flower store.
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