A Tribute to Dorothy Austin

Dorothy Austin, artist, mother, friend to the environment, died Saturday February 12 from stage 4 breast cancer. She fought hard to keep her quality of life and live as long as she could how she wanted. The last 4 1/2 months were unbelievably rough. A weaker soul would have crumbled. Not only did she keep on through impossible odds, she found ways to love and be engaged in life every day she had. Her heart stayed grateful for the little things. She found ways to keep happy and positive as she could. She asked for help when she was weak in spirit. She was loved by people who knew her all over the globe. People closest to her felt her fire and often it burned - but if you got down to her heart and spoke with her from the heart, she was approachable, vulnerable. She understood the language of the heart. She couldn't contain those big emotions, that outrage at man's stupidity. She was keenly intelligent and clear and could retain a lot of information and keep it straight.

Dorothy was a tireless worker for the local environment here on Orcas. She fought "city hall" numerous times, called a spade a spade, didn't mince words, alienated people because of that, and she had enemies. The work she did wore on her. It hurt her heart. She was tough and kept getting up every time she was knocked down. She was tenacious; when she got hold of something she did not let go or drop the ball. She walked her talk. Always. She was complex, extraordinarily generous (to a fault), difficult, beautiful, fun, loving, caring, wildly creative, prolific, productive, flamboyant, passionate, curious, avid, demanding at times, spoiled, elegant, independent, observant, and more. She had her faults, as we all do, but her heart was pure and true. She will be missed.

Dearest to her heart was this island that she loved so much, and fighting to save its critical habitats. She was especially passionate about Eastsound and even though she didn't live in the UGA proper, was always in the hub of what was going on here, and held the County's feet to the fire numerous times when the Council (and former Commissioners) tried to write this place off. She believed so much in saving habitat that she spent much of her modest fortune on it. I believe the heartbreak of the corruption and obstructionism she found time and again is what made her ill. It can break a person.

Luckily, she pulled away from the full-time fight when she had her beloved daughter Pearl. Pearl was everything to her, always in her thoughts and heart. Dorothy became re-committed to her art and afforded Pearl as many experiences as she could with art, travel, shared times doing fun things, being with. Dorothy finally realized and claimed her title as Artist; she was always that but it took her a lifetime to see it and claim it.

May she rest in peace and know that others, when carrying on the necessary battles to save the environment, think of her and draw strength from her tireless efforts and love of this earth. We who do art think of her and her art and excitation at doing the work itself. She was inspired and inspiring.