Michael Dalton Austin, Sr (Mike) passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at South Shore Hospital after a brief illness. His passing was swift and gentle, though unexpected.
The son of Seymour (Sam) Austin and M. Denise (Perry) Austin, Mike grew up in Abington and enjoyed long summers as a boy in Houghs Neck, Quincy, MA with his grandmothers. As an adult, Brant Rock in Marshfield, MA also held a special place in his heart. He graduated from Abington High School, and that was where he met the love of his life, Nancy (MacPhelemy) Austin. They wed at St Bridget’s in Abington in 1967. They welcomed three children, DawnMarie in 1968, Michael Jr in 1975, and Joseph in 1980. Mike worked at Hendries Ice Cream in Milton for twenty years, starting just after high school. His coworkers could always rely on him for a sympathetic ear, some off-the-cuff wisdom, and always his sense of humor. Whenever someone retired from Hendries, Mike was asked to write one of his infamous poems as part of their sendoff. These poems included touching memories of the person, amusing anecdotes, and often an embarrassing story or two. But they made everyone laugh, and always touched the honoree’s heart. Mike loved words and wordplay, teaching his daughter to do crossword puzzles in pen, always confident the right words were found at the right time. Once Hendries closed, Mike was already a grandfather, but that didn’t stop him from reinventing his career and himself as a Corrections Officer with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department. Taking on a population that was, in his words, “half my age and twice my size,” his wit, perseverance, and charisma won over his colleagues and gained the respect of the men he governed. He earned the nickname ‘Pops’ from the inmates, and Mike was excellent at maintaining professional boundaries while becoming a source of advice and someone, they could trust. Mike took advantage of the growth the department offered and retired from the department after twenty-seven years as an Intake Coordinator at the Plymouth County Jail.
The only thing Mike was prouder of than being an officer, was his family. He and Nancy were married for fifty-seven years, raising their family in Abington before moving to Whitman once their children were grown. He was a resident of Whitman until his passing, and his family continues to reside there. He was an active member of the Plymouth Seaside Club, a sportsmen’s organization, for many years. Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, and collecting clocks. He had so many clocks that Nancy told him only one could be wound and active, as the constant chiming of so many clocks was quite the clamor! Always on the lookout for a deal, you could tell Mike you were looking for just about anything and he would find it at a yard or estate sale, and later online. He passed this talent onto his son Joe, and his ability to find anything, as well as his love of music, to his son Mike Jr.
Mike was predeceased by both of his parents, his brothers Peter Austin, Sr and Val Austin, and other close friends and family. He leaves a brokenhearted family; his wife Nancy, daughter DawnMarie McBeigh and her husband Chris McBeigh, sons Mike Jr, and Joe. He will be very missed by his grandchildren, Vincent, August, and Andrew McBeigh, and Mason and Parker Austin, as well as his sisters Susan Austin Baker, and Nancy Austin Weatherwax, and sister-in-law Marie Little Austin. He also leaves his beloved aunt Lorraine (Perry) Paolucci, his uncle Bob Perry, countless cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and very many friends. To say that everyone Mike met was just a new friend, and that he cared about each and every person he encountered, is a vast understatement.
Family and friends are invited to Mike’s visiting hours on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 4-7pm at the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, 666 Plymouth Street, Whitman, MA. Interment will be private. Mike, however, wanted a big party to celebrate his life, and people are invited to contact his immediate family for details.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Whitman Senior Center in Whitman, MA.