|
News & Features
From the Idyllwild Town Crier weekly newspaper, 04.16.09 edition.
Doug and Mary's partnership –
a gift to the community
By Marshall Smith, Staff
Reporter
In ways large and small, sometimes invisible
and at other times with great theatrical flourish, Doug and Mary Austin
partnered to provide the Idyllwild community with riches of the spirit
and of the purse. Although Mary’s passing on March 9 changed the
temporal nature of that partnership, it continues in ongoing gifts and
grants the Austins provided to village nonprofits and individuals —
“dignities of recognition” as Doug might say.
Doug said that Mary provided the backbone, the grit and the humor that
enriched their 26 years of marriage. Doug recalls Mary saying, "Doug,
you go out and slay the dragons. I’ll manage the rest."
Doug, for his part, joked that he survived in this world only because
he had married well. Conscious each day of “the blessing” of his
marriage, Doug presented Mary a rose each morning. That acknowledgement
— recognizing his good fortune — provided the basis for the Austin’s
decision to turn their mutual good fortune into benefit for others.
After paying off their house in 1993, they began putting the equivalent
of a montly mortgage payment into a fund for philanthropy. Each time
they chose to give a grant, they would say “Honey, let’s take it out of
the house payment,” according to Doug.
Starting in 2001, the Austins began to fund grants to local individuals
and nonprofits including the Soroptomists, Help Center, Rotary, Isis
Theatre, Friends of the Library, and the Idyllwild School as part of
the annual Charles Dickens Essay and Poster contest. All bequests,
other than the Dickens contest and play, were presented quietly.
The Dickens contest, in contrast, benefited from the theatricality of
Victorian costuming and ceremony. On one occasion, Doug, costumed as
Charles Dickens, led a procession of poster and essay contest winners
from Idyllwild School to the Strawberry Plaza shopping center where
their essays and posters were displayed in plaza shop windows.
An annual Charles Dickens play, written by Doug, Mary and other
collaborators took place at The Rustic Theater to raise money for the
Friends of the Library. Mary, an accomplished pianist, provided
background music for the play. “Mary,” said Doug, “had a theory about
philanthropy — the apple basket theory. When you give your apples away,
you have room for more in your basket. But if you keep or hoard them,
they’ll go bad.”
There are currently nine grants funded in perpetuity by the Austins
through the Idyllwild Community Fund. Mary was the quiet presence
behind the couple’s philanthropy, keeping the books, helping select
beneficiaries, and guiding and protecting her larger than life husband
as he sallied forth to slay dragons and rescue any suffering distress.
“She was a gift for 28 years,” said Doug. “The smart thing for me was
that I recognized that gift for all our time together and gave her
every dignity. Mary used to say, ‘I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect.
We’re just perfect together.’”
Doug talked of the strength of their partnership. “One Clydesdale
[horse] can pull 800 pounds,” said Doug. “Two together can pull 2400
pounds. If you’re in harmony with your partner, you can do anything.”
And that is what they did — supporting the town they loved by
sharing the good fortune and joy they created in their own lives. Doug
said their mantra was, “If you want to feel good about yourself, serve
others.”
A service celebrating Mary’s life will be held Saturday, April 25, from
2 to 5 p.m. at Idyllwild Arts Amphitheatre. Doug recommends that
attendees bring their own blankets and folding chairs.
Mary and Doug Austin, "perfect together."
Web Site designed by the Idyllwild
Town Crier © 1995-2007 by Idyllwild Publications
WEBMASTER
|
