In Memory
William I Austin
On receipt of the postcard mailing, William's wife Jane has submitted the following regarding William's death last year:
| Mount Lebanon High School Class Of 1965 |
Deceased Classmate: William I. Austin
Date Deceased: May-21-2009
Age at Death: 62
Cause of Death: Heart disease with diabetes
Classmate City: Dover
Classmate State: NH
Classmate Country: USA
Survived By: Wife, Jane and 4 children Betsy, Jon, Nate and Bill
Graduated from St. Vincent College '69 Worked for the PA Dept of Welfare as head of training until he retired in 1999 Got his master's degree in Instructional technology from Bloomsburg University and moved to Dover, NH in 2002 where he ran a small Website business until his death in May of '09
Roger S Cunningham
I was really saddened upon hearing the news that Bill died last May. Bill was really a great guy. I remember his Mom and Dad and the duplex they lived in on Meadowcroft Avenue in Mt. Lebanon. The first time I ever went to a Mt. Lebanon Day Kennywood picnic was with his family. They packed a picnic basket chocked full of "good eats." We used to pal around in his father's 1958 Chevy. It didn't have power steering; fortunately Bill was a pretty strong guy, to say the least. He often took part in our famous car chases. A group of guys would drive out in several cars to some remote area 10 or 15 miles from Jefferson Junior High. The object was to be the first car back to the school. Often Bill would drive the Chevy and I would be the navigator. We almost always won!!We also played together in our famous "kill the man" football games - tackle football with no pads. You always wanted to have Bill on YOUR side!! No one ever wanted to have to tackle Bill once he got up a head of steam.
I also remember how good Bill was at wrestling and track. There are some great pictures of Bill in our year book throwing the shot-put and hammer.
I lost contact with Bill after high school. I tried to find him a few times without any success. I think his father died and his Mom moved out of Mt. Lebanon.
It's tough to hear of the death of a good friend, even when it's someone you haven't seen in more than 40 years.
Jane A Herchenroether (Kirsch)
Bill Austin was one fine guy. I'm sitting here picturing that big grin and ruddy red complexion. He was a real sweetheart and a good and loyal friend.About 20 years after we graduated I happened to be traveling around central PA and knew where he lived from the alumni book that I had recently purchased. I called the number for his office and we had a wonderful conversation. He insisted that I come to their home for dinner that night and I had the privilege of meeting his wife and kids.
He was a simple sort of fellow - no fancy lifestyle and no air of pretension - just a dedication to helping others who were not as well off and to live a good life.
You are missed, my friend.
Michael D Roberts
Will was one of three "bill" cousins, bill Morgan and bill englehart. Bill was an early grade school friend at Lincoln. We used to play ball at the playground almost daily in the summer. He was a genuine, caring person all the years I knew him thru high school. No pretenses. He was also very athletic, fast, strong... It has been some years since he passed, but I wanted to post my remembrance of a really good guy...