Austin W. Kenefick, age 92, passed away on Oct. 30, 2024 at the Harmony House in Chicopee. He was born on Oct. 3, 1932 in Boston, MA, the son of the late Austin W. Kenefick, Sr and Helen H. (Harrigan) Kenefick. Austin served in the US Air Force during peacetime. He first worked as a copy boy for the Washington Post and then as a reporter for the Holyoke Transcript. He was then a reporter, copy editor, and writing coach, for the Springfield Republican newspaper for many years before he retired in 1998. He is predeceased by his first wife, Mary (Flanagan) Kenefick, who passed away in 1987, and also by his second wife, Barbara (Jamrog) Kenefick, who passed away in 2019. He is survived by one daughter, Molly Kenefick, of Oakland, CA and one stepson, Robert Levy, and his wife, Susan, of Clinton, CT; three grandchildren, Kierstyn Berry and her husband Shawn, Amanda Fox and her husband David, and Ben Levy. He also leaves two beloved great grandchildren, Lenora and Margot. Austin’s goals in the last few months of his life were to live to his 92nd birthday and to be able to cast his vote in the election. He was happy to have accomplished both. Austin had a correspondence practice all his life and not only wrote regularly to his family members and closest friends, but also to anyone he knew was sick or “needed bucking up,” and never missed writing a thank-you letter for any baked goods or kindness he was given. He filled out almost every customer service survey he was asked to do, so he could help anyone as much as he could who had helped him, whether it was someone at Apple’s technical support, or at Staples, who made copies of his writing handbooks. Austin was an active and concerned citizen who wrote to Presidents, senators, mayors, and civil servants, thanking them for their service and encouraging them to safeguard democracy and civil liberties. Austin loved to tell the story of meeting with Robert Frost for fifty minutes during his senior year of college. It was a pivotal moment in which Mr. Frost encouraged him to follow his aspiration of writing for newspapers and set Austin upon his career path, which he never regretted. Austin was devoted to the idea of a free press as a check on government and that an impartial media helps people understand what is going on so they can make their own educated decisions. Austin loved words, quotes, and books all his life. He was a devotee of several local used bookstores while they were in business, and had as many as ten books “going” at once. No one else in the family understood how he could keep them straight, but he could never read enough biographies or books about history. In recent years he was amazed how he could use Wikipedia and Google to learn more with a few keystrokes about something he was reading on the page. Austin believed everyone has a story and should share it, so he wrote several booklets and gave talks to encourage hesitant writers to give it a try. Readers and audience members enjoyed his enthusiasm and the amusing anecdotes included. Austin was a devoted volunteer in many roles and environments. His volunteer activities included coaching high school newspaper journalists, supporting people seeking their GEDs, teaching catechism (CCD), lecturing at least two churches, reading books for the blind, and being a Big Brother. Austin expressed his gratitude and fortune to have had two wonderful marriages. He had a daughter, Molly, in his first marriage to Mary, and his second marriage to Barbara came with his stepson, Robert, and he and his wife, Sue, allowed Austin to be a grandfather and a great-grandfather. He reveled in his family and their journeys. Calling hours will be held on the morning of the funeral, Wed., Nov. 6, 2024 from 9:30 – 10:30 AM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield St, Chicopee, MA followed by a Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 AM. A private burial will be held at a later time. For online condolences, please visit www.GriseFH.com.