Charles K. Austin

Charles (or Charlie as he was called by friends and family) was born on November 22, 1944 in Worcester, Massachusetts and spent his childhood in Ayer. Charlie and Linda raised their family in Lexington before settling in Padanaram Village (South Dartmouth) in 1999.

The youngest of four, Charlie was the son of Charles B. and Marion Austin. In her later years, his mother was a well-known humanitarian, opening an orphanage and school in Haiti.

Charles served in the Army and worked as an entertainer in the folk music scene; performing in coffee houses and clubs in Boston, Greenwich Village, and St. Thomas. Charles met his wife, Linda, during a tour in St. Thomas; they were married in January 1967.

In 1968 Mr. Austin began his career as a prominent and widely respected Broadcast Journalist in Boston; working at WBZ-TV 4 as a film editor, anchorman, and street reporter. He received an Emmy in 1970 for a documentary studying violence in Africa, and a Gilda Radner Award in 1997 for his inspirational role as a cancer survivor. Mr. Austin, whose daughter Danielle was born with Down syndrome, was also inducted into the Massachusetts Special Olympics Hall of Fame.

Charlie was a man of faith and integrity; he read his Bible every morning and was known to proclaim the phrase “God is good, all the time.” As a prominent member of the Grace Chapel choir (Lexington) and a performer in Langston Hughes's Black Nativity in Boston, Charlie used his resounding baritone voice for praise. A spiritual man of God, he cherished life, often quoting the phrase, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift... that's why it is called the present.”

Austin retired in 2000 and was inducted in 2011 into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He also received a Silver Circle award from the New England chapter of the National Academy of Television and Sciences for his contributions to the medium and those entering careers in the field.

Charlie was an avid sports fan who loved cheering for the Red Sox and watching golf. He also looked forward to playing golf at the Back Nine when the weather cooperated. Charlie and Linda enjoyed spending time with family. Family gatherings often included singing, dancing, sharing stories and laughter, always laughter.

A memorial service in Boston will be announced for Mr. Austin, who in addition to his wife, Linda, and daughter Danielle, who lives in Fairhaven, leaves his daughters Lisa Coole of Bridgewater and Amy Sheppard of Madison, N.J.; a sister, Adrienne Mack of Winchester; and five grandchildren who affectionately referred to him as “Papa,” Amy Coole, Austin Coole, Jaime Sheppard, Jackie Sheppard and Sidney Sheppard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Massachusetts Special Olympics www.specialolympicsma.org

For online tributes please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com