Robert Austin

Robert W. Austin passed away peacefully at Fairview Nursing Home on Saturday, December 14th with his loved ones by his bedside. Robert “Bob” was born August 9, 1937, in Lawrence, MA to the late Carlton E. and Doris (Bartlett) Austin Sr., the second to youngest of 4 children. The family eventually settled in Mexico, ME where Bob graduated from Mexico High School in 1955. During his high school years, Bob was the high school basketball team's manager, and he performed in several school productions, one of which was locally televised. Bob enlisted in US Army. He served at Fort Bragg during his active duty and was honorably discharged from service in April 1963. In 1957, Bob met the woman who would later be the love of his life, Cheryl Van Deusen. After several years of courtship, they married September 1st, 1962, moving to a small apartment in Orono, ME so Bob could complete his bachelor's degree in business administration at the University of ME. Shortly after graduation, Bob and Cheryl moved to Lunenburg, MA where he began his long career with General Electric at their plant in Fitchburg, MA. He loved bringing his family to the many open houses GE put on through the years. Bob ended his long career as a senior cost accountant at GE's Lynn, MA plant, retiring after 33 years. Bob loved his family life. In spite of the long commute to work, he always made time for his daughters, Tina and Carolyn. He was never too busy to color pictures, build blocks, or teach his children how to ride their two-wheeled bicycles. He attended softball and basketball practices and games, helped run lines for school plays, and attended every concert and choral performance his children were involved in. In addition, he served as a deacon at the First Baptist Church in Methuen, MA for many of those early years. He loved being a dad, but the title of grandpa/papa was where he excelled. His grandchildren brought him a whole new level of joy. Bob and Cheryl would eventually build their dream home in Nashua NH prior to Bob's retirement. In his post-work life, he would play golf nearly every day, rain or shine, preferring to walk the course rather than rent a cart. He joined the bowling league at Leda Lanes, enjoyed playing ping pong at the senior center in Nashua, and doing jigsaw puzzles on his computer. He was an avid reader with a love for mystery novels and enjoyed watching suspense and war movies. He loved sharing television programs and movies from his youth (The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and the Carol Burnett Show were favorites). He loved watching Boston sports, especially the Red Sox and the Boston Celtics. He enjoyed teaching his grandchildren to play cribbage and in turn, they taught him how to play cornhole. And it wasn't truly a party unless Bob had a dinner plate-sized cut of the cake. For 15 years, Bob stoically battled Alzheimer's and dementia with his family by his side. The wonderful teams at Fairview Nursing Home in Hudson, and the hospice workers that would eventually become part of his care team, were instrumental in his comfort and care. We cannot thank them enough for their dedication to him. Bob is survived by his loving wife and caregiver of 62 years, Cheryl (Van Deusen) Austin; his daughters, Tina Matachun and her husband George of Derry, NH and Carolyn Whitehouse and her husband Adam of Windham, NH; grandsons, Christopher Matachun of Derry, Jared Matachun of Shalimar, FL, Austin Whitehouse of Windham and granddaughter, Emerson Whitehouse of Windham, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Carlton E. Austin Sr. and Doris Austin, his brothers, Carlton Austin Jr, Richard Austin, and sister, Kathleen Bowden. A time of visitation will be held on Friday December 27th from 9:00am -10:30am with a Service of Remembrance at 10:30am in the Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Ferry Street in Hudson, NH. A private Graveside Service will be held in the NH State Veteran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations be made in Bob's loving memory to the Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.

Robert Austin

August 9, 1937 - December 14, 2024