Clemont Austin Iv

Clemont Robert “Rob” Austin IV, age 53, of Chicago, died March 6, 2022, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 

Rob was a wonderful and caring father and role model to his three children, with a sharp but gentle sense of humor. He was a fierce competitor blessed with stamina and perseverance. He was a lover of words, an intellectual. As a friend, Rob was true and loyal, drawing dozens of people into a wide circle of lasting connections throughout his life.

His legions of friends, co-workers and family members knew Rob to be an outstanding individual in every way. He made living look easy and fun and excelled at everything – as a student, friend, teacher, business professional, father, and son.

Rob was born in Erie, PA., on June 24, 1968, to Clemont R. Austin III and Penelope Smith Austin.   He graduated from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, OH., where he co-captained the varsity soccer team.  At graduation, he was honored with the Bicknell Prize for the outstanding senior who “most influenced spirit, morals and honesty in the classroom, and leadership on the campus and the athletic field.”

Rob graduated from Stanford University in 1990.  He was a walk-on member of the varsity soccer team and was honored as a student athlete.  He spent a semester at Oxford as a visiting scholar.  After college, Rob enjoyed distance running to keep himself in shape.

Many of Rob’s gifts were nurtured during summers at the Chautauqua Institution, where he was a counselor at the Boys and Girls Club and a reporter for the Chautauquan Daily.  There he made many lifelong, friends who comforted him through the last year of his life.

Rob taught English for five years, first at Kiski Prep and then at Western Reserve.  He was a much loved and respected English teacher and coach. He coached soccer and baseball, a sport he had never played competitively.  At Western Reserve he won the J. Ward and Marion Keener prize given to the outstanding young faculty member.

But Rob also had an entrepreneurial itch and business sense, so he went back to graduate school to enter the business world. In 1997 he received an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and began a career mainly focused on supply chain management.  He was a “road warrior” for several firms, traveling countless days to all corners of the country.  He would check in with his family from Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York, Montana and everywhere in between.

In addition to his parents he is survived by his three children Margot Aley Austin, Jonathan Robert “Jack” Austin and Ella Aley Austin; as well as his brother Peter Austin (Amanda) and his sister Julia Austin. He is further survived by several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special word of appreciation to Dr. Conrad Vial and Rob Watters, lifelong friends who guided Rob through his final months on earth. We would also like to acknowledge the doctors and staff at Northwestern Memorial Hospital where Rob spent nearly 200 days during the last year of his life.

There was nobody like him. His spirit lives on through all the people he has touched dearly. 

The family will receive visitors and friends at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Service – Downtown, 602 W. 10^th St. on Tuesday March 15, 2022 from 3-6 PM and are invited to the funeral service at The First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, 250 W. 7^th St, on Wednesday at 11 AM.  Inurnment in Erie Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials in Rob’s memory may be sent to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.541 North Fairbanks Court, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611. giving@nm.org.

Condolences can be sent to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com