So sorry to hear this. My best to the Petis and Austin families.
Tim Kovacs, Phoenix

I want to extend my sincere and heartfelt condolences to all of Neil’s family and to his many friends. Neil was one of the first people I met when I moved to the K-W area many years ago and he never failed to be kind and courteous to me. I have many memories of sharing supper together with our partners and friends in Keats Way apartments. Neil was a consistently kind person and always offered a helping hand to his friends when one was needed.  Put simply, the world would be a much kinder place if more people had the qualities of Neil.  I am very glad to have known him. 

There are no words to express my heartfelt sorrow over such a great loss.  All of my love,  and condolences  to my best friends,  Doug and Kay and Family,  and to all of Neil's friends.


Neil was a truly good, sincere and generous man and I count myself lucky to have been good friends with him for 16 years. He welcomed me into a fantastic group of friends when I was a newcomer to K-W.  We enjoyed poker nights and playing a WWII FPS using Luger only; later we bravely attempted zombie survival mode and lasted a record 14 hours. After moving house in 2013, I gladly gifted my bbq to Neil and we enjoyed cooking meaty meals including on several occasions large tomahawk steaks cooked to perfect medium-rare - with veg and spud on the side if only for appearances. Excellent memories are what we hope for and Neil has I am sure left many of those with all of us. Dougie and Kay, Nancy and the whole fantastic group of friends, I share in the pain of this very sad loss.

What sad news. I just heard about it. I liked him a lot. I worked with him in the band Copperfield. I also recorded Melisa and Neil's Christmas music cd and enjoyed the time spent with him on those projects . He had a very youthful way about him.  Neil had great proficiency on the acoustic guitar and was a great guy to be in a live band with.  My sincere condolences to his family. 

Kay and Doug, I am thinking of you at this time. I am so sorry for your loss.
Laura Einwechter ( YWCA) 

So sad to hear about Neil’s passing.  We met through the NFL program deliveries to our school.  We had some fantastic chats and he could always bring a positive spin to anything.  Neil, you will be missed so much.  My condolences to your family. May you Rest In Peace. 

My deepest sympathies to all the friends and family he leaves behind.  It was with  great sadness that I learned of Neil's passing. We used to spend a lot of time in our teenage years and it was the week before I learned of his passing, not having seen him in a couple of years that I found myself reminiscing about an evening he I had shared walking back from a Jam hall on speedsville rd. That evening/ early morning. We saw the northern lights dancing in green so we took some time to sit, stargaze and watch  the unusual spectical.  Such a gentle and kind soul.  He'll be fondly remembered and missed. He and the family and friends are in my prayers tonight.   God bless 

I worked with Neil at Tigercat. He was one of the decent and sincere people left in this world. 
Neil was very musical gifted and I enjoyed going to his house and jamming together while Dee and Melissa talked about their crafts and home renovations.
Neil will be dearly missed and our hearts go out to Melissa.

Sincerely, 
Jeff and Dee

I met Neil through his delivery's with Nutrition for Learning at a few schools (WCDSB)  I've  worked at in Cambridge. Enjoyed briefly talking with Neil while helping  him unload the items. Was looking forward to playing some more music with him and visiting the store. 
My condolences to his family .
Rest in Peace .
Dave W.

I met Neil years ago at Southridge School when he made NFL deliveries for our children each week.   During our weekly chats I got to know him as he shared great stories of his music,  his love of travel, renovations and more recently he lit up telling me about his new store.   Neil was a warm, gentle, friendly and special soul. I am grateful for our chats and will always think of him at Christmas when I pull out his beautiful Christmas CD.   He was so proud of it. He was smiling ear to ear when he told me about it …. I had to buy one. So lovely.  His light will always shine in the lives he has touched.  My sincere  condolences to his family and friends.   

I met Neil through Nutrition for Learning and always looked forward to being on his route. He loved helping the families and made them feel extremely important.  I thoroughly enjoyed our random and candid chats and can't quite believe he has driven his last route.  Heartfelt condolences to Neil's family and friends.  I know he will be missed, immensely. 

Dear Kay and Doug, 
 My heart hurts for you both! May you find peace and comfort in the days ahead. Prayers and love to you and the rest of the family.
Love, Colette

It was a pleasure to get to know Neil through Nutrition For Learning. He welcomed me to the program when I was a new volunteer.  It was clear how much he loved the community and that he knew the neighborhoods well.  He helped bring good food to so many children. He made the deliveries with warmth and acceptance for all. My condolences to his family and colleagues.

My condolences to all  family and friends .God will comfort  your whole family during this sad time . 

Our school and children so benefited from his dedication to NFL.  He made the world a better place.  We are so sorry for your loss. 

Sharlene McHolm
Principal, Prueter Public School

We are so sad to hear of the passing of Neil. His passion and dedication to the NFL program at our schools will be greatly missed. I enjoyed hearing of his music endeavors and about the latest games. I could see how much he loved making a difference in our community.  We will miss him greatly! 
Affectionately, Sharon Morgan

I had the pleasure of working with and getting to know Neil over the past few years. He was kind and compassionate and always willing to lend a helping hand. He will be truly missed, and while the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are never said and never explained, I know that his light and love will forever be remembered by everyone who knew and loved him. Rest easy Neil. Until we meet again.

I have known Neil since he was a teenager and best friends with my daughter, there were about 15-20 of them that hung out all the time and some 30 years later they remained the same great friends which says a lot about the kind of person he was, he was so kind and thoughtful, always pleasant with a smile and kind word. He will be greatly missed and thoughts and prayers with his family at this tragic time.


I am so grateful that Neil's path and mine crossed, over four years ago. My life is richer because of him. He was a positive influence , creative , kind ,  talented and generous. He loved a good time with good music. I really enjoyed working with him every day,  even through the pandemic, it was always a positive environment which he really added to in his "we can figure this out" way. Everything was possible with Neil. 
They say it is not what we say or what we do ,but how we make people feel that matters in the end. I believe that to be true. Neil made people feel good.  
To a life too short, but well lived, you leave a hole in so many lives, but I know I am grateful for the short time our paths crossed. Mary  


Neil was always there. Lending a hand to offering advice. We worked together briefly and regardless of what was going on, he had a positive attitude and a persona where nothing will stop him or get in his way. His store was a product of that determination. My condolences to his family for such a tragic loss.

OBITUARY

Neil Douglas Austin

April 17, 1976 – October 21, 2021

Barthel Funeral Home

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