Michael Austin

Michael Abraham Austin passed away unexpectedly on November 5 in Decatur, Georgia, where he was a student at Emory University.
Michael was born in Columbus, Ohio on June 8, 1990 to John Austin and Marcy Rodgers. He was a 2009 graduate of Rutherford B. Hayes High School and also attended Northland High School. He was a member of the wrestling team, marching and jazz bands, Envirothon, and the National Honor Society. Michael graduated with a B.A. from Capital University in 2013. At Emory he was studying to earn a Master's Degree in Public Health with a Certificate in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies.
Michael was passionate about social justice and finding solutions to help others. While at Capital University he was an intern at the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS). He soon became Youth Program Lead Coordinator for ETSS. In this role he ran summer programs, coordinated the Youth Summit, and established the Youth Collaborative Board, consisting of American social service agencies and ethnic community organizations. This was to give a voice to immigrant and refugee youth. One project, among many of note, was the establishment of community gardens on the east and west sides of Columbus.
Michael furthered his work by studying the impact of nutrition on child development with the Kossoye Project in Ethiopia while working with the International Medical Corps. (IMC) to improve conditions for people living in refugee camps in Africa.
Michael is survived by his parents, John and Patti Austin (stepmother), Marcy Rodgers and Rick Eckler (stepfather); siblings Sara Austin Wenner and her husband Charles Wenner, Chelsea Eckler, and Connor Eckler; grandparents Arnold and Mary Austin and Shirley Rodgers; aunts Jane Austin Sorstokke, Ann Austin Grady, and Kuani Rodgers. Michael is at peace with his grandfather Donald L. Rodgers, and his uncle Donald M. Rodgers.
A memorial will be held for MIchael at St. Peter's Episcopal church in Delaware, Ohio on December 10, 2016 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made in Michael's memory to ETSS - Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, 1060 Mt. Vernon Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43203, or on their website www.ethiotss.org/help-us/donate. A youth scholarship will be created in his memory.

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033