Inspiration - Oakland Community College

14
Inspiring Students
To Stretch
colleague Jack Inch will still start to call out a “good
night” when he passes carl Austermiller’s office,
or sometimes to walk in to discuss an issue that
has surfaced. After working together for 38 years,
who could blame him? But carl passed away in
August, and Jack is one of hundreds of carl’s
colleagues, friends, and students who still miss him
and the quiet inspiration he instilled in so many.
Jack misses these little things, but remembers how
students kept in touch with him long after they left
his classroom and Occ. They, too, remember his
reasonable approach to matters that arose.
Sylvia Austermiller, his wife, said this:
“carl—cJ to me—was an educator’s educator.
He loved to teach, and even though he taught
survey courses in economics at Occ for most
of his career, he kept the materials as fresh and
current as the daily news. He was a tough
teacher who challenged his students to stretch
their craniums. And yet, those who had learning
challenges or tough personal lives found him to
be a real softie. He was passionate about Occ;
he was proud to be a member of the Occ family,
and he felt the institution contributed enormously
to the community and the students it served.
“In his life outside of Occ, cJ was a labor
economist and consultant. One of the proudest
days of his life was when both of his daughters,
“He was a tough teacher
who challenged his
students to stretch their
craniums.”
Heidi and Rebecca, graduated from Occ.
Since they chose to graduate on the same day,
cJ donned a cap and gown and participated in
commencement with them. He tried to act like it
was no big deal, but I can assure you it was a big
deal! He was a grandfather to two lovely girls
and spent many an hour singing songs with them
and playing board games, especially checkers.
“As for his life with me, cJ and I had 43 wild,
wonderful years together, and we were fortunate
enough to have great kids, grandkids, friends, and
colleagues. We enjoyed creative and academic
freedom, and we had traveled much of the world.
In July, Occ granted him a full year sabbatical,
but unfortunately, the Fates stepped in.”
carl will be remembered through the scholarship
donations sent to the Occ Foundation in his
memory, but his spirit will live on through the
hundreds of students and friends he inspired, in
and out of the classroom.
Sylvia Austermiller was married to Carl, an
economics instructor at Orchard Ridge, for 43
years. She shared some thoughts about her
husband.