GDIN HQ's has just received sad news from David Sabatini (Friday, July 25, 2003). The Chair of the GDIN Academic Working Group, Dr. Al Austin, has died. Dr. Austin will be remembered by as a great friend of GDIN and for fostering the development of the Pilot Project Service. The idea behind the service was that organizations with technology or equipment not yet used in disaster information management could come to GDIN to have those products tested for practicality. GDIN would use its vast network of experts for this service, for a fee. Al also worked hard to develop a network of Academic leaders for GDIN and will be sorely missed.

Message from David A. Sabatini, Sun Oil Company Chair, to GDIN Follows:

Friends -
Not being sure if some of you may have heard, and knowing that this is the email list that Al was corresponding with, it saddens me to inform you that we have lost a valued colleague and trusted friend - yesterday afternoon T. Al Austin went home to be with the Lord. After suffering for five months with throat cancer, and enduring great pain and multiple visits to the hospital, Al passed away yesterday at home. I'm sure that we will all greatly miss Al - he was one of a kind. But I also know that Al's faith sustained him during these difficult months, and that he was looking forward to one day going home to be with his precious Savior. Although I am deeply saddened by his passing, I take consolation in the fact that the Bible tells us there is no more suffering or pain where he is now, and based on my faith in the same Savior that Al so cherished, I look forward to one day being reunited with him there. I count it a privilege to have been his PhD student. Fondly remembering my 3 1/2 years at ISU with him, I always cherished the rare times we could be together in the last 14 years. I am now challenged to carry on his legacy, as best as I can.
Dave