Obituaries

Obituary: Austin Tautkus, 18, of Ellington

Austin Peter Tautkus, 18, of Ellington, died Wednesday, June 18, of injuries suffered in a tragic accident in Suffield.

The following obituary was posted on the Carmon Community Funeral Home website

Austin, a rising sophomore at Western Connecticut State University, lived in Ellington with his parents, Elizabeth and Keith Tautkus. At Western, Austin was majoring in business and played on the Colonials' Bowl winning football team on which he was a wide receiver. He lived on the Danbury campus this past year before returning home for the summer.

Austin moved to Ellington in 2000 with his father Keith, who grew up there; his mother Beth (Ellis) Tautkus, a Poquonock native; and his three siblings. All grew up in the Ellington school system.

Austin shared the special joy with his brothers and sisters of attending schools where both of his parents were teachers. Beth has taught 7th grade science at the Ellington Middle School for 14 years and had the pleasure of sharing that experience with Austin, who also was a student of his father's at Ellington High School.

Keith not only taught Tech Ed to Austin but also coached him on the varsity football and baseball teams of which he was head coach. Austin earned varsity letters in basketball his sophomore and senior years at high school, in baseball his sophomore-senior years and in football freshman-senior years.

He was a student leader and captain of both teams his senior year. He also received his senior year the annual Coaches' Award given to the outstanding two or three sport student athlete. For the 2012 season Austin was All-Conference in the NCCC for football.

Recruited by several quality football programs at Division Two colleges and universities, Austin chose to continue his football career at WCSU where he was a strong student, a dedicated athlete, and a valued and much respected teammate. It is unfair to Austin given the breadth of his education to say he was fixated on sports but he did take great joy in competing in everything from bowling to whiffle ball, including fantasy football and baseball leagues with his many cousins.

In addition to the time they spent together on the gridiron and baseball fields, Austin and Keith shared a great passion for antique car and truck restoration.

They frequented car shows across the northeast and the farm on which they worked together is littered with the carcasses of a dozen wrecks of varying vintage that they are either stripping for parts or harboring a mutual delusion that they can be returned to their original glory. At the time of his death Austin and Keith were working on bringing back to life a 1969 Chevy truck.

In addition to his parents, Austin is survived by three siblings: devoted sisters Katherine (Katie) and Jennifer (Jenny) and a doting older brother, Jason. All live in Ellington.

He also leaves his grandparents Irving and Ethel Tautkus of Pine Island, Fla. and Gail Ellis of South Windsor. His Aunt Teena Tautkus resides in Ellington and cousins Ryan and Rory Regan live in Philadelphia and Boston respectively. Uncles Robby and David live in Ridgefield, and Montclair, Va. with their wives, Aunt Liz and Aunt Laura.

Another eight cousins — Garrett, Sarah, Drew, Kyle, Abbey, Tim, Maggie, and Gwen — complete Austin's extended family and all share with Austin's parents and brother and sisters this helpless anguish over his loss.

Austin was colorfully vibrant and compassionate in life, playful, both often amused and amusing. Despite his youth he was learning to make good choices that defined him as a good human being and caring young man. He was a loving son, a supportive and adoring brother, a staunch and true friend. His life was all too brief but it was very rich and he spread that largess to all he touched.

Please join us to celebrate Austin and to share again in his life that lives still in all our hearts.

There will be calling hours in the Ellington High School Auditorium, 37 Maple St., Ellington, on Saturday, June 21, from 4 to 8 p.m., and a funeral service on Sunday, June 22, at 3 p.m., also in the Ellington High School Auditorium.

Please send donations to the Austin P. Tautkus Memorial Scholarship Fund, 250 Broad St., Windsor, CT 06095. Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral Home, Vernon has been entrusted with arrangements. 


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