Ann Spencer Austin

Ann (Spencer) Austin, 59, of Clearwater, Fla., formerly of Southbury and New Milford, died February 20 at her home. She was the wife of Robert F. Austin and the mother of Michael Menousek of Newtown.

Mrs Austin was born November 3, 1941, in West Newton, Mass., daughter of Marguerite (Dent) Spencer of Greenfield, Mass., and the late Andrew Spencer. She had been the editor of the Brookfield Journal in Connecticut and production editor of the Encyclopedia Americana for Grolier Publications.

In 1979 she was named “Woman of the Year” by Governor Ella Grasso for her participation in founding Connecticut’s Commission on the Status of Women and the subsequent passage of 107 statutes related to women and minorities. In 1982 she formed her own company, Austin Communications Group, a consulting firm specializing in project communications in large-scale development.

She was the first woman to be a member of Danbury Rotary Club, and a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Danbury Area Hospice.

Besides her mother, husband, and son, she leaves another son, Andrew Menousek of Clearwater, Fla.; one daughter, Margaret Austin of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; two stepchildren, Stephen Austin of Danbury, and Kathleen Kennedy of Port Orange, Fla.; one sister, Christine Angelico of New Britain; three brothers, Charles Spencer of Windsor, John Spencer of Northampton, Mass., and William Spencer of Vermont; and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held February 24 at 2 pm at Christ Church Episcopal, Church Street, Roxbury. Calling hours will be Friday, February 25, from 5 to 8 pm at Carpino Funeral Home, 750 Main Street South, Southbury. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 2024 E. Main Street, Waterbury, CT 06705, or to Regional Hospice of CT, 30 West Street, Danbury, CT 06810.

The Newtown Bee       February 23, 2001