Wayne Michael Austin

Wayne Michael Austin (born Wayne Edward Austin) passed away peacefully on July 29, 2021 at the age of 70 at his care home in Pearl City, Hawaii after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. The eldest of three boys, Wayne was born in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles, California on August 9, 1950 to Edward Francis Austin and Irene Madeleine Austin (nee Piva). Wayne and his family moved to Los Altos, CA where Wayne attended Saint Williams Elementary and later the all-male Catholic high school, Saint Francis High School. An avid runner, Wayne attended Foothill College, where he participated in the track and field program. He also ran several marathons in college and throughout his life, often finishing in the top 100 racers. In Hawaii, he continued to run many races including the Honolulu Marathon, which he ran three times, once with Linda. After two years at Foothill, Wayne transferred to San Jose State University, where he joined the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, a community service organization. He majored in graphic design and photography.

Upon graduation from college in 1974, Wayne traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he met the love of his life, Linda Naomi Toda, at a local house party. Wayne and Linda married at Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, Hawaii on April 21, 1979. Wayne had a true gift for art and worked for several years in Hawaii as a graphic designer. Wanting to return to the mainland, Wayne was offered a job at Varian as an electronic technician and Wayne and Linda moved back to California in 1985. While in California, Wayne and Linda lived life to the fullest, exploring national parks and skiing every chance they got. Their greatest adventure of all came in 1990, when Linda gave birth to their beautiful twin children, Michael and Theresa. In January 1992, shortly after Michael and Theresa were born, Wayne and Linda moved back to Hawaii to raise their family. In Hawaii, Wayne was very active in his children’s lives and the local community, coaching Michael and Theresa’s soccer team, leading Michael’s Boy Scout troop, joining the Knights of Columbus, and being very active at the Star of the Sea Parish.

Although Wayne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the early age of 53, we know he made many people laugh and he touched many lives while he was healthy. Wayne was known for his loud, boisterous laugh, his ineptitude at directions, his gift of dramatic storytelling, and most importantly, his thoughtfulness and willingness to lend a helping hand.

Wayne is survived by his wife of 42 years, Linda Austin (nee Toda); his son, Michael “Akira” Austin; his daughter, Theresa Culver and her husband Joe; and brothers, James Austin and his wife Victoria and Edward Austin.

Wayne’s family would like to thank Sweet Haven Care Home, Amy and Bernie Fogata, and Arceli and Danny Fogata, for taking good care of Wayne in his final years.

Services will be private and burial will be at Hawaii Memorial Park in Kaneohe, Hawaii.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Austin family.