Every July 25, St. Vincent de Paul remembers long time General Manager, Dan Austin, who passed away on that day in 2018. We now call the area of the old store, where transitional assistance, from clothing and food to navigator assistance to find housing and employment, the Dan Austin Center.
For over 20 years Dan served the Society with great commitment and love. He left a legacy of incredible business acumen, skill at navigating grants and rules related to low income housing, but most of all, great passion and care for the poor and homeless in Juneau.
“To me, Dan was a true example of someone living out the mission of the Society, which is to ‘provide material and spiritual charity and work for social justice for all people’,” said Board President, Maureen Hall. “He was a compassionate friend to all and a visionary leader. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
For his second anniversary, no memorial service could be held, but he may be best remembered by this prayer that was found on his computer:
Oh, Great Spirit,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me.
I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes
ever behold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made
and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
the things you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be better than my brother (or sister),
but to fight my greatest enemy – myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes,
so when life fades, as the fading sunset,
my spirit will come to you
without shame.