Peter Andrew Austin

Peter Andrew Austin, 67, of Winston-Salem passed away October 26, 2023, at his home after an illness.

Born in Asheville in July 19, 1956. Peter was a librarian, historian and scholar. He was considered an international expert and author regarding the life and works of noted Spanish architect and engineer Rafael Guastavino, whose tile construction method is celebrated at the Biltmore estate, the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville and at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, in Manhattan, to name a few.

Peter also inventoried the Guastavino archive at Columbia University in 1995.

Raised in the Riceville community, Peter grew up as an avid marksman, trapper and naturalist.

He was student body president at both A.C. Reynolds High School and UNC Asheville before graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Warren Wilson College in 1988.

In high school he was chairman of the Asheville Buncombe County Youth Council and the North Carolina Youth Council, and was honored as Buncombe County's outstanding high school senior for 1973-74. Peter was an accomplished speaker, and was elected president of the Asheville Toastmasters Club while still a teenager.

His passionate advocacy before the Buncombe County Board of Education was said to be instrumental in the board's vote to commit funds to construct the current A.C. Reynolds High School building.

He later earned his Masters degree in library science at UNC Greensboro, and worked as a librarian for Ciba-Geigy in Greensboro before taking a position as a technical services librarian at Salem College in Winston-Salem.

Prior to completing his education, Peter worked in a variety of industries, including as an offshore Atlantic fisherman, as a restaurant professional in Charleston, South Carolina, and in Asheville, and as a personal assistant to late Asheville architect Anthony Lord.

Peter was widely known as a conversationalist and good neighbor, and was a consummate reader.

Peter was a son of the late Harvey Eugene Austin of Celo, North Carolina, and the late Ethel Ray Austin of Riceville.

Survivors include his sister, Deborah Austin; two brothers, Christopher Austin and Jonathan Austin; four nieces, Sarah Austin, Rachel Mongno, Rebekah Austin, and Alexandra Austin; a nephew, Justin Salerno; several great-nieces, a great-nephew, numerous cousins and a wide-ranging collection of friends.

A celebration of the life for Peter will be held Saturday July 20, 2024  beginning  at 1:30 p.m. for family, friends, and acquaintances at the community center, part of the Riceville Volunteer Fire Department building, which is located at 2251 Riceville Road, Asheville, North Carolina.

The facility has limited parking, so friends might consider carpooling from the Ingles Market on Tunnel Road at Oteen. The community center is approximately 3.5 miles up Riceville Road from the Ingles stoplight at Oteen.