Shrewsbury – Peter M. Austin Sr., 75, of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully at home April 2, 2019. He was born Oct. 1, 1943 in Boston, son of the late Margaret D. and William H. Austin.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Denise, as well as four sons and daughters-in-law, Peter and Lena of Amston, Conn.; Patrick and Georgia of Montpelier, Vt.; Andrew and Kathryn of Mansfield; Matthew and Heather of Kent, Conn. He also leaves behind 10 adored grandchildren. Mr. Austin was predeceased by his brother, William H. Austin Jr., and grandson, Pierce H. Austin.
Mr. Austin graduated in 1961 from Cheshire Academy, Georgetown University in 1965, BA Political Science, and George Washington University in 1968, BS Mechanical Engineering. His first professional work was with the Bechtel Corp. in San Francisco, Calif., and he ended his career with Northeast Utilities, Berlin, Conn. in 2000.
Mr. Austin earned his Professional Engineer registration in the state of Connecticut in 1974. He and his wife were the owners of The Village Bookshop in Rocky Hill, Conn. during the 1990s. Following his retirement, he periodically traveled the country as a consultant in the commercial nuclear power industry.
A lifelong lover of the sea, over the years Mr. Austin sailed and raced from Canada to the Caribbean, often with one of his sons on board. He is a past Commodore of Sachem’s Head Yacht Club in Guilford, Conn.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, April 10, from 3-6 p.m., at the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. A Memorial Mass will be conducted Thursday, April 11, at 10 a.m., in the Chapel at Southgate, 30 Julio Dr., Shrewsbury. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at St. Bridget’s Cemetery of Cheshire, Conn.
Remembrances may be made to MATH, Medical Aid to Haiti, 80 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107.
The family expresses extreme gratitude to the staffs of Jewish Health Care Hospice of Worcester and Family Tree Home Care of Shrewsbury, as well as the entire staff at Southgate of Shrewsbury.
