Obituary of Augie Augustine

Augie Augustine December 29, 1927 - August 3, 2016 Augie was born in Bucyrus, Ohio to Joseph and Mary Augustine. He is survived by his wife Faith; sons Michael Augustine, Patrick (Kathleen) Augustine and grandsons Nathan and Jeremy Augustine. He is preceded in death by sisters Katie (Jack) Sharp and Anne and brother Jimmy. He had a successful career, serving his country and his community, but we will remember him most as a kind and gentle man, who loved his family and friends. Augie had a wonderful sense of humor and easily made friends who warmed to his contagious smile, warm heart and giving nature. Whenever he walked into a room of strangers, they left as family. Augie served honorably in the US Army in Korea. After military service he joined the U.S. Civil Service. He was initially assigned to Sidi Slimane Air base in Morocco. There he had many adventures including being honored as a "blood brother" to a Berber chieftain after his role in rescuing U.S. airmen downed in the Atlas Mountains. After five years in Morocco, Augie was assigned to Ft. McClellan Air Force Base, then on to Spain to become Deputy Base Director of Materiel at Torrejon Air Force Base. While at Torrejon, in addition to his role supporting the repair/supply of Air Force fighter jets, he led the American effort to provide supplies in response to the Valencia floods and materials used in averting the flood that threatened the Moron Air Base. Augie's stateside career took him to Washington, DC where he served as Chief of Logistics at the Harry Diamond Nuclear Laboratories and Program Analyst at the U.S. Army Air Materiel Command. He was particularly proud to be part of the analyst team that supported the initial procurement of the TOW missile system developed by Raytheon in Tucson. He then served as Deputy Director for Materiel at Ft. Irwin Army National Training Center in California, where troops trained for desert warfare. He received many awards and commendations during his career, including for his work in crash programs for the repair of jet fighters at Getafe, Spain and as Chief of Management at Madrid Air Procurement Office. His illustrious career culminated with the Decoration for Meritorious Civilian Service from the Department of the Army. It was as Chief Executive Officer of the Army Corps of Engineers, West Coast Division, that he retired after 31 years in Federal Service and pursued his love of the game of golf. He was not only an excellent player, but a sought-after golf coach to friends and family. Augie threw himself into everything he did, in and outside of his professional career. Two examples, among many, include his diving into a pool to save the life of a drowning man and conducting a 59 hour radio marathon in support of March of Dimes. In Tucson, he was one of the "Soroptimisters" who supported their wives in the community service activities of Soroptimist International of Desert Tucson, He was also a successful realtor for Tucson Realty and Trust. Besides golf, Augie enjoyed traveling with Faith, especially their time spent getting to know cousins in Calabria, Italy and surprise visits to his family in Ohio. Augie strongly believed in the work of the Mario Batali Foundation which is dedicated to hunger relief and children's disease research. To support the Foundation's mission of ensuring that all children are "well read, well fed and will cared for", Augie has asked that in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made by donation to the Mario Batali Foundation (www.mariobatalifoundation.org) 20 E. 45 St, New York, NY 10003. Our lives are in a better place because he touched them.