Dr. Peter Austin

Peter Samuel Austin, 69, passed away Thursday May 10, 2018. He was born in Duluth on August 1, 1948, to Walter and Irma (Spitzer) Austin.

He graduated from Central High School (1966) and then attended UMD for two years before completing his BA in Political Science at the Twin Cities campus (1970). Peter graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School (1974), where he served as class president. He then completed an intern year in Portland, Oregon before returning to the Twin Cities for an ophthalmology residency at the U of MN.

While at the University of Minnesota he met Sarah Bonney Kincaid. They were married on July 1, 1973 in Rochester, Minnesota

Peter moved back to Duluth in 1978 and established an ophthalmology practice in the Medical Arts Building, later known as Austin and Treacy. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Duluth, a past president of the Lake Superior Medical Society, and served as a board member at Northland Medical Associates and Temple Israel. He helped coach his children’s sport teams and was a cub scout pack leader. He enjoyed downhill skiing, fishing, water sports, being at the cabin, and spending time with family and friends. Peter also cherished frequent travel adventures and fishing trips with his lifelong friends, Mike McLish and Ron Abernethy.

His parents, uncle Egon Spitzer, and grandmother Gisela Spitzer preceded him in death.

Peter is survived by his wife, Bonney; children Bryan (Jessica), Jonathan (Bren Elizalde), Nicholas (partner Kendra Coonse), and Alexandra Austin (Nick Ullrich); sister Ruth (Arthur) Hafner of Chicago, IL; nephews Zachary, Ethan, and Jeremy Hafner; niece Tamar Waller; sisters-in-law Linda (Richard) Dick and Elizabeth (Brian) Stinson; and his faithful canine companions, Piper and Charley.

FUNERAL SERVICE: 10 AM Monday, May 14, 2018 at Temple Israel, 1602 E. Second St. Burial will follow at Tifereth Israel Cemetery. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, Duluth, 218-727-3555.