Donald Franklin Austin II

Donald "Don" Austin, a devoted husband, faithful Christian, teacher, coach, and respected attorney, passed away on October 22, 2025, at the age of 78, in his childhood home in Normandy Park, Washington surrounded by family. His passing was peaceful and filled with songs of hope as Don eagerly anticipated the life to come.

Don was born on July 11, 1947, in Seattle, Washington to Donald Franklin Austin (a World War II B-29 captain, d. 2002) and Leona Evaline Sampson (a World War II Army Air Corp nurse, d. 2008). The Austins welcomed another son, Paul, to the family in 1948, and the two boys enjoyed a lifetime of rivalry and friendship.

After graduating from Portland State University (B.A. in 1970 and M.A. in Teaching in 1977), where he attended on wrestling scholarships, Don lived a life marked by service, and an abiding love for learning. In his earlier years he taught English with a passion for the classics and coached wrestling, football, soccer, and swimming at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon. In the last event he coached, his team won the Oregon State Girls Swimming Championship. As a young teacher and coach, Don shaped and was shaped by many lives, in the classroom and on the field, demonstrating discipline, perseverance, and care for his students.

Don would take care for students and education with him as he answered a different call: the law. After earning his Juris Doctor from the Northwest School of Law of Lewis & Clark College in 1986, Don transitioned to a legal career. He was admitted to practice in Washington, California, and Idaho and eventually he became a principal attorney at Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, P.S., in Seattle. Over decades of service, he became known for his work with school districts as both a legal representative as well as in influencing school board policy. In 2006, Don pioneered a unique approach for schools to use in guarding children from sexual abuse. This approach translates what Sex Offender Treatment Providers know about sexual grooming into school board policies and employee trainings. This work was instrumental to the states of Washington and Alaska both adopting new school board policies to protect children.

Don represented more than 100 school districts during his career and taught School Law as an adjunct professor in graduate schools of education at Washington State University, Seattle Pacific University, California State University at Northridge, and California Lutheran University. He also served as President of the California Council of School Attorneys and was a frequent speaker at national, state, and local levels about school and education law.

During his sojourn in California, Don met his wife, Susan, in 2001. Once they were married and moved back to Washington State, Don quickly got involved in the lives of Susan’s grandchildren who also lived in the Seattle area. To them he became “Papa Don,” the man with a story for every situation. He shared his love for music, opera, history and the Pacific Northwest with the five boys who would eventually call him Papa Don.

Above all, Don was a man of faith, a faith that blossomed with unprecedented emotion in his final year. As a member of Trinity Church in Bothell, he spent his waning days immersed in reading and studying the Scriptures, drawing strength and comfort from God’s Word as his earthly life drew to a close. His joyful anticipation as he waited to see Jesus face to face, surprised many, but brought him supreme comfort and peace. He desired everyone to have that same joy and confidence and was quick to share an encouraging word or a favorite book.

He is survived by his wife, Susan, his brother, Paul, and his beloved dog, Tulip. He will be fondly remembered by his stepson Justin Potts and the boys who called him Papa Don: Jackson, Andrew, Benjamin and Zachary Letsche and Lee Dennis. There are many who were served and helped by him that will also miss him greatly.

Don lived with integrity, guided by faith and a servant’s heart. His life stands as a testament to the power of transformed lives through dedication, compassion, and faithfulness to God. He longed to hear the words spoken to a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” All who share Don’s faith in Jesus can be confident he is now at rest in loving fellowship with the One he faithfully served.

Donations in can be made in Don’s honor to Providence Classical Christian School where all his grandsons attend(ed).