I can't believe it's been one year since we lost you, Mr. Austin. you will always be in our hearts. You were in our thoughts this week when one of my best friends from SHS came to visit me this week.  We shared stories of being students of yours and how you brought out our imagination at times when we thought we had just had blank spots.
Thank you for sharing so much with us and letting us bring out parts of us at times we didn't know we had. We hope you are still enjoying yourself and putting on all kinds of plays still. 

Sharon Lieberman Wallace

Warmest regards to Carol Austin as we remember Doug fondly today…

Anne Metaxas & Pete Senderowitz

I’m so sorry to hear of Doug Austin’s passing. He was my favorite teacher, along with my Dad, to grace the halls of SHS! Witty, charming, talented and inspiring, Mr. Austin’s legacy has set a standard for generations to come. My condolences to his precious family. 
Claire Rieker Dellerson
Class of 1974

I just wanted to wish Mr. Austin a Happy First Birthday in Heaven, I'm sorry I was late.
You will always be my favorite teacher who let me my imagination have its place in this world and let me know it's ok to have a place in our world. 
I will always miss the times being one of your students.

Can’t believe this. Wish I found out sooner so I could have gone to the wake and funeral. Had Mr. Austin back in the 90’s my junior year at Suffern HS. Awesome teacher awesome man. Rest in Peace Mr. Austin

Class of 1994. I am shocked. Just saw this unfortunately. Loved Mr. Austin. My favorite teacher. Haven’t really been in contact with Suffern since I got married and moved down to South Carolina back in the summer of 2001. He was a really good man. Wish I had kept in better contact with everyone up there over the years. One of a kind. Rest in Peace Mr. Austin. 

I was saddened to learn of Doug’s passing. He was one of a kind; a true colleague and friend. He and Greg Phillips brought me in to choreograph the SHS musicals in 1990 when I had just moved to Rockland and was easing out of performing. We had at least 10 years of collaboration together on the spring musicals and always had such a wonderful time. Doug was beloved by the students who always felt such pride in their work. 
Doug and i continued our friendship after his retirement, to this day. Richard and I send our deepest condolences to you Carol. May your memories sustain you during this difficult time. 
Much love to you

Mr. A ran the TV studio, was the director for the skits and scenes we would write (or recreate), and for me, was a role model and mentor. He sponsored my friend and I on a special project where we built a set, rehearsed, acted, filmed, and presented our scene at a school event. The time he spent with us, I realize now, was at the expense of time doing his job or with his family. He spent his lunch with us, after school, before school, and weekends sometimes I hope my son has a teacher half as dedicated as he was. Thank you Mr. A. - Jason Phillips SHS ‘88

Doug was an outstanding colleague and superb teacher.

From the battlefields of southeast Asia as a U.S. soldier, to the auditorium of Suffern High as a play and musical director, Doug Austin was a man for all seasons.

Words cannot capture the effect Doug Austin had on me. His was the coolest English class I had ever taken. We read Salem's Lot in his class. When we read The Metamorphosis, he left the room briefly, then came back in as a cockroach. I learned as much about myself as a person in his class as I did about English; probably even more so.

He encouraged my creativity and his was a classroom that always felt safe. He is the paradigm for me.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to his home, many many years ago now, and after a while, we took a break from talking to take a walk in the woods. He wanted me to help him as he was trying to make a video for "The Road Not Taken." I got to walk to where two roads diverged in a yellow wood with Doug Austin. And that has made all the difference.

In my 30 years now as a teacher, the overarching goal for me has been to create an environment like the one Doug Austin created. One day, if I'm lucky, I may meet that goal. The pursuit of that goal keeps me going. Rest in peace, Mr. Austin.


 I had known Doug from his start at Suffern HS.  He had a contagious, exuberant love for teaching and working with his students and with the music department.  There was a wonderful collaboration in his involvement in so many musicals becoming fond memories for the actors on stage, the audience and for the musical staff.  It can be said that nothing was ever static on a production that Doug directed.  So much life, movement, the stories were told.  I’m forever grateful for his friendship, involvement and joy that he brought to so many.  Thanks, Doug

The best teacher I ever had. RIP Mr Austin. I know you went straight to Heaven. ❤️ Jessica Davis - class of 2000

It's been over 30 years since I graduated and the memories with Doug are my clearest.    I never loved English class, but 10th grade with him changed that outlook, and was one of my favorite classes.   But his real inspiration to me was in theater and television.....both hobbies I have continued in my adult life, despite my career in medicine.    He taught many lessons to us in subtle ways, but these life lessons are gems.
Truly one of the remarkable ones who I am certain influenced generations of students in positive ways.    My deepest sympathies
Jon Strasser (class of '91)

Rest in peace Mr. Austin. You were a wonderful teacher.

I was not a good student in High School. I was smart enough to get by without trying, so I never tried, and I didn't manage time well. 

In tenth grade English, Mr. Austin assigned us the book "A Tale of Two Cities" which I promptly forgot about for weeks until one day I walked into class and we were having a test. It was horrible--I didn't know anything about the story, and was at a complete loss. So I wrote a note on the test along the lines of: "I am very sorry Mr. Austin. I didn't read this book. I just forgot, I have no excuse. I'll take the zero."  

Mr. Austin offered me a deal—he said he would just remove that test grade from the calculation of my grade for the semester if I promised to read "A Tale of Two Cities" that summer. 

I loved Mr. Austin, so I promised. And that summer, I read it. And I liked it. 

And the following autumn I went to see him and I told him I'd read it, and he was nonplussed. I guess I expected him to be pleased with me, and maybe I said something along those lines. And he said to me: 

"Alice, I didn't ask you to read it for me. I asked you to read it for you."

Great teachers change lives. 

In loving and grateful memory,
Alice Petty, 
SHS class of 1988

I had Mr. Austin for 10th grade Honors English in 1986-1987. He was a kind and gentle man who challenged us in unorthodox ways. After reading Albert Camus’s, The Stranger, he asked us to tap into our ability to be irrational by answering a choice of essay questions without using written words. I distinctly remember many of sitting at our desks starting at a blank sheet of notebook paper not knowing what to do. In the last few minutes of the class I drew some sort of picture on the page and defeatedly handed in my paper. When it was returned after grading, Mr. Austin has given me a B+. I thought to myself, “Well, that’s not so bad” since I had no idea what this guy wanted from me. After class, I went to speak with him and said that during the test I was so frustrated that I almost handed in a paper with nothing on it other than my name. And, he replied, “If you had done that, that would have been truly irrational and I would have given you an A.” The distinction between rational and irrational has not been lost on me since that day.
During this academic year, we also read The Little Prince. This book remains one of my favorites to this day and I have re-read it many times. When handing in our final exams, Mr. Austin handed us each a piece of paper. I can only call it a “love letter” of sorts to his students. I have had many teachers in the course of my life and no one else has ever made such a touching gesture. In it, he expressed gratitude for the privilege of being our teacher and wishes for both our academic as well as personal futures. He ended with a quote from The Little Prince: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” This was followed by his own words which I have not and will never forget: “If you understand this, we will always be friends.”
My deepest sympathies to the Austin family.


Mr. Austin, to this day. I always tell stories about how you would stop the school lessons and talk about life lessons. “Books can only teach you so much”. I wasn’t the best student but our talks stick with me to this day. You had such perspective and it always resonated with me. Thank you for taking part in making me who I am today. Rest easy good sir. 

Class of 1997

Doug had a huge influence on me as a teacher. His unique approach encouraged me to think outside the box and embrace my creativity in a myriad of ways. Later in life I was happy to call him a friend. He will be sorely missed but not forgotten. I am lucky to have had him in my life. My deepest condolences. 

This photo was taken  around 1987 …I believe the class was called “Actors Craft”. My memories often fail me these days, but what I’ll never forget is one of the best…and coolest  … teachers I ever had. I truly feel bad for anyone that didn’t have a Doug Austin as a teacher !! Sending my heartfelt condolences to Mr. Austin’s friends and family, my thoughts are with you.

Dearest Carol and Family,
  I am so very sorry to hear this sad, sad news.  Doug was such a wonderful, kind and talented man.  My thoughts and prayers are with you. 
Love, 
Dara Santoro


I will never forget the production of Oliver, just grand !!  Who else could put on a musical in which the entire cast TAP DANCED, I think, in 42nd Street?? Doug oozed creativity and was beloved by the entire school.  Students clamored to sign up for his classes.
Ginny Sniatkowski


RIP to one of the greatest men to grace the halls of Suffern High School. Doug Austin was a gem of a gentleman. I performed in the musicals at SHS he directed. He had a deep love for theater and in turn created a deep love of performing in all of us acting students. My condolences go out to his family, colleagues & friends. He will be dearly missed. 🙏🏼

Mr. Austin sparked my love of theater in HS. I was a part of all 4 productions that he directed, my favorite was Anything Goes. The production won awards if I remember correctly, 1999.

It was very difficult to get into his actors craft and improv classes as electives. They were always full, and we learned and laughed so much! I have such fond memories of his gentle soul, I don't remember him raising his voice EVER, and I have become a teacher myself, 15 years MS Science. 

A wonderful man, teacher, director, his light will go on. Thank you Mr. Austin.
My heartfelt condolences to Mr. Austin's family. Holding you in the light.

I'm in a bit of shock to hear that my English Teacher from Suffern High has passed away. One year I had his wife, then the next year, I had the great man himself as my English teacher. He was one of my all-time favorite teachers in my entire school life. I still remember one of our assignments was to write a paper on an everyday item. I wrote mine about a tee shirt that had just gotten washed and then hung outside on a hanger and a gust of wind came and blew the tee shirt all over the place. The ending of the story was the tee-shirt ended up in the road and got run over by a truck.
We would do plays in class and everybody had a role no matter what. He always would want us to use our minds to express ourselves and he would bring the best out of each of us. 
 place. The ending of the story was the tee-shirt ended up in the road and got run over by a truck.
We would do plays in class and everybody had a role no matter what. He always would want us to use our minds to express ourselves and he would bring the best out of each of us. 
 place. 
We would do plays in class and everybody had a role no matter what. He always would want us to use our minds to express ourselves and he would bring the best out of each of us. 
I would like to extend my condolences to his family and friends. As well as my prayers.  Anybody who had Mr. "A" for English while at Suffern High, knew we had a very special teacher who cared about each and every one of us.
Rest in Peace, heaven has gained another angel.

I was in his class and enjoyed his stories of serving in the military. He gave life to the class and was quite open minded, encouraging discussion. 

Had Mr. Austin for English my junior year of high school (1984-1985). My favorite teacher of all time. Great teacher, great man. RIP Mr. Austin. God bless

Mr. Austin was the best kind of theatre teacher, one who saw the potential in each of his cast members and brought out the best in all those lucky enough to have crossed his path. He will be missed and remembered fondly. 
With deepest sympathy,
Allyson Haas (née Jaron)

I am so sorry for your loss.   Doug was such a good colleague at the high school.  His smile,  laughter and insights into may a topic and the arts will be remembered.  Know that you will be in my prayers during this difficult time.

Maria Rossi

I’m so sorry for your loss. I had Mr. Austin for video editing and I remember him doing a class called “dirty Disney” and he went over the movies and all the “dirty” secrets in them. What a great man and teacher. 

Renee class of 1998 

My deepest condolences. Mr. Austin was an inspirational teacher and director.  Will always hold a special place in my heart.

Carol,

I was so very saddened to learn of Doug’s passing. Although we saw one another far too infrequently as of late, I always had a deep appreciation and a very great love and admiration for him. Please let us know whatever we can do to support you. When you’re ready, Jeanne and I would love to see you.

Much Love,
Fred and Jeanne

A graduate of Suffern High School in 1978, I had Mr Austin as my junior year English teacher. He had us submit journal entries one time per week in those old school black and white composition notebooks. He responded to every journal entry with compassion and encouragement. He helped us find our voices through our own  written expression.   What a gem of a teacher! I still think of him with gratitude in my heart. May he Rest in Peace. May his family be comforted by wonderful memories. 

Kaye (Murphy) Boling 

RIP Doug Austin. You and Carol were the best teachers and I was absolutely the worst student. But you both believed in me when I had no belief in myself. My achievements in life can be sourced directly back to you. Thank you for what you did for me and the thousands of students you taught. I’m so happy you let me back into your lives when I needed it most. 

Carol, my sincerest condolences. I’m struggling for words of comfort but there aren’t any that can express my emotions. I love you both and will keep you in my thoughts as you go through this difficult time. xo, Frank Selvaggi

Dear Carol, my deepest condolences. Doug was unique, gifted, passionate, and loved by countless students. If one is very fortunate, one may have a few exceptional teachers who influence the arc of their lives in big and small ways. Doug's imprint is still felt, woven into the tapestry of my memories, and especially those who participated in drama and school plays; the rehearsals, camaraderie, laughter, anxiety, anticipation, performance, and the after-glow. We were fortunate to have many exemplary teachers. Doug (and you, Carol) stood out as MVTs (most valuable teachers) of all time. His love of teaching and drama was authentic, as was his genuine care for his students. Doug was also the epitome of cool. He was much loved and respected, and his memory will be cherished. Michelle Ward-Brent, SHS Class of 1977

So saddened to hear of Doug's passing. As a 1977 SHS graduate, I carried Doug's wisdom, his exercises we did in the after school theater group, his love of drama and especially of Shakespeare with me my entire adult life. I still think of him when I teach Alexander Technique classes to actors. His advanced English class left an indelible mark on my student years at SHS. He will be sorely missed by countless former students. May his memory be a blessing. 

OBITUARY

Douglas Scott Austin

2 August, 1946 – 17 February, 2023

Wanamaker & Carlough Funeral Home

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