The Rev. Austin Herrick Armitstead, 84, passed away peacefully Feb. 20, 2009, in his home. The Rev. Armitstead was born Dec. 30, 1924, in Nashua, N.H., and spent his childhood and teenage years in New England and Pennsylvania before enlisting in the Army in early 1943.
Austin fought for freedom as an infantryman in the 12th Armored Division seeing action along the Rhine River near Strausburg, France, until taken as a prisoner of war in early 1945. After his liberation in April 1945, he returned to the United States and civilian life. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., in 1948 and having decided to dedicate his life to the service of God, worked with migrant farm workers from northern Florida through northern New York before enrolling in Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he was awarded a master's of divinity in 1952. He married his wife, Bianca Audrey Potz-Nielsen in 1951 and the couple began a lifetime of ministry together.
Rev. Armitstead was pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights for 21 years before his retirement from the active ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1995 and after his retirement, joined the Queens Gazette as Community Liaison and Roving Photographer, positions he held until he and his wife moved to Virginia in view of his declining health in 2007
Rev. Armitstead was an Elder in the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and served pastorates in Hauppauge, Commack and Center Moriches on Long Island, Bay Ridge Methodist Church in Brooklyn and Faith United Methodist Church on Staten Island as well as Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights. During his pastorate at Community UMC, he established a four-language church, bringing a diverse community together in service to God.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities Armitstead was also a leader and advocate for social change and justice in each of his stops along life's path. He was an early and vocal advocate for racial integration and equality and also worked tirelessly in the cause of ecumenicalism and community responsibility upon the part of the churches he served. He held positions as president, vice president or chairman on a number of boards in New York including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, police community relations, Staten Island Council of Churches, Brooklyn United Methodist Church Home and the Jackson Heights Community Development Corporation. He sheltered New York City homeless, served the New York City Police and Fire Departments in a number of ways and served on numerous task forces of New York City mayors, improving the lives of thousands.
His passion for championing the underdog was also evident in his lifelong love of baseball. He was an avid New York Mets fan and attended nearly 1,000 ball games at Shea Stadium in Queens. Perhaps fittingly, Armitstead died only a few days after the last remaining piece of that ballpark was leveled. He was also an honorary lifetime member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Bianca; one daughter, Nancy Armitstead of New York City; two sons, Alan Jackson Armitstead (wife, Petra) of Suffolk and John Auman Armitstead (wife, Ima) of Lexington, Kentucky; two brothers, Donald M. Armitstead of Seattle, Washington and Dr. Paul T. Armitstead of Waco, Texas, and five grandchildren: Christian, Jaclyn, Michael, Steven and Jonathan.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 27, at 11 a.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk celebrated by the Rev. Bob Weeks of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery also in Suffolk.
Austin fought for freedom as an infantryman in the 12th Armored Division seeing action along the Rhine River near Strausburg, France, until taken as a prisoner of war in early 1945. After his liberation in April 1945, he returned to the United States and civilian life. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., in 1948 and having decided to dedicate his life to the service of God, worked with migrant farm workers from northern Florida through northern New York before enrolling in Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he was awarded a master's of divinity in 1952. He married his wife, Bianca Audrey Potz-Nielsen in 1951 and the couple began a lifetime of ministry together.
Rev. Armitstead was pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights for 21 years before his retirement from the active ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1995 and after his retirement, joined the Queens Gazette as Community Liaison and Roving Photographer, positions he held until he and his wife moved to Virginia in view of his declining health in 2007
Rev. Armitstead was an Elder in the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and served pastorates in Hauppauge, Commack and Center Moriches on Long Island, Bay Ridge Methodist Church in Brooklyn and Faith United Methodist Church on Staten Island as well as Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights. During his pastorate at Community UMC, he established a four-language church, bringing a diverse community together in service to God.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities Armitstead was also a leader and advocate for social change and justice in each of his stops along life's path. He was an early and vocal advocate for racial integration and equality and also worked tirelessly in the cause of ecumenicalism and community responsibility upon the part of the churches he served. He held positions as president, vice president or chairman on a number of boards in New York including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, police community relations, Staten Island Council of Churches, Brooklyn United Methodist Church Home and the Jackson Heights Community Development Corporation. He sheltered New York City homeless, served the New York City Police and Fire Departments in a number of ways and served on numerous task forces of New York City mayors, improving the lives of thousands.
His passion for championing the underdog was also evident in his lifelong love of baseball. He was an avid New York Mets fan and attended nearly 1,000 ball games at Shea Stadium in Queens. Perhaps fittingly, Armitstead died only a few days after the last remaining piece of that ballpark was leveled. He was also an honorary lifetime member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Bianca; one daughter, Nancy Armitstead of New York City; two sons, Alan Jackson Armitstead (wife, Petra) of Suffolk and John Auman Armitstead (wife, Ima) of Lexington, Kentucky; two brothers, Donald M. Armitstead of Seattle, Washington and Dr. Paul T. Armitstead of Waco, Texas, and five grandchildren: Christian, Jaclyn, Michael, Steven and Jonathan.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 27, at 11 a.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk celebrated by the Rev. Bob Weeks of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery also in Suffolk.
The Rev. Austin Herrick Armitstead, 84, passed away peacefully Feb. 20, 2009, in his home. The Rev. Armitstead was born Dec. 30, 1924, in Nashua, N.H., and spent his childhood and teenage years in New England and Pennsylvania before enlisting in the Army in early 1943.
Austin fought for freedom as an infantryman in the 12th Armored Division seeing action along the Rhine River near Strausburg, France, until taken as a prisoner of war in early 1945. After his liberation in April 1945, he returned to the United States and civilian life. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., in 1948 and having decided to dedicate his life to the service of God, worked with migrant farm workers from northern Florida through northern New York before enrolling in Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he was awarded a master's of divinity in 1952. He married his wife, Bianca Audrey Potz-Nielsen in 1951 and the couple began a lifetime of ministry together.
Rev. Armitstead was pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights for 21 years before his retirement from the active ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1995 and after his retirement, joined the Queens Gazette as Community Liaison and Roving Photographer, positions he held until he and his wife moved to Virginia in view of his declining health in 2007
Rev. Armitstead was an Elder in the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and served pastorates in Hauppauge, Commack and Center Moriches on Long Island, Bay Ridge Methodist Church in Brooklyn and Faith United Methodist Church on Staten Island as well as Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights. During his pastorate at Community UMC, he established a four-language church, bringing a diverse community together in service to God.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities Armitstead was also a leader and advocate for social change and justice in each of his stops along life's path. He was an early and vocal advocate for racial integration and equality and also worked tirelessly in the cause of ecumenicalism and community responsibility upon the part of the churches he served. He held positions as president, vice president or chairman on a number of boards in New York including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, police community relations, Staten Island Council of Churches, Brooklyn United Methodist Church Home and the Jackson Heights Community Development Corporation. He sheltered New York City homeless, served the New York City Police and Fire Departments in a number of ways and served on numerous task forces of New York City mayors, improving the lives of thousands.
His passion for championing the underdog was also evident in his lifelong love of baseball. He was an avid New York Mets fan and attended nearly 1,000 ball games at Shea Stadium in Queens. Perhaps fittingly, Armitstead died only a few days after the last remaining piece of that ballpark was leveled. He was also an honorary lifetime member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Bianca; one daughter, Nancy Armitstead of New York City; two sons, Alan Jackson Armitstead (wife, Petra) of Suffolk and John Auman Armitstead (wife, Ima) of Lexington, Kentucky; two brothers, Donald M. Armitstead of Seattle, Washington and Dr. Paul T. Armitstead of Waco, Texas, and five grandchildren: Christian, Jaclyn, Michael, Steven and Jonathan.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 27, at 11 a.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk celebrated by the Rev. Bob Weeks of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery also in Suffolk.
Austin fought for freedom as an infantryman in the 12th Armored Division seeing action along the Rhine River near Strausburg, France, until taken as a prisoner of war in early 1945. After his liberation in April 1945, he returned to the United States and civilian life. He graduated from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., in 1948 and having decided to dedicate his life to the service of God, worked with migrant farm workers from northern Florida through northern New York before enrolling in Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he was awarded a master's of divinity in 1952. He married his wife, Bianca Audrey Potz-Nielsen in 1951 and the couple began a lifetime of ministry together.
Rev. Armitstead was pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights for 21 years before his retirement from the active ministry of the United Methodist Church in 1995 and after his retirement, joined the Queens Gazette as Community Liaison and Roving Photographer, positions he held until he and his wife moved to Virginia in view of his declining health in 2007
Rev. Armitstead was an Elder in the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and served pastorates in Hauppauge, Commack and Center Moriches on Long Island, Bay Ridge Methodist Church in Brooklyn and Faith United Methodist Church on Staten Island as well as Community United Methodist Church in Jackson Heights. During his pastorate at Community UMC, he established a four-language church, bringing a diverse community together in service to God.
In addition to his pastoral responsibilities Armitstead was also a leader and advocate for social change and justice in each of his stops along life's path. He was an early and vocal advocate for racial integration and equality and also worked tirelessly in the cause of ecumenicalism and community responsibility upon the part of the churches he served. He held positions as president, vice president or chairman on a number of boards in New York including the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, police community relations, Staten Island Council of Churches, Brooklyn United Methodist Church Home and the Jackson Heights Community Development Corporation. He sheltered New York City homeless, served the New York City Police and Fire Departments in a number of ways and served on numerous task forces of New York City mayors, improving the lives of thousands.
His passion for championing the underdog was also evident in his lifelong love of baseball. He was an avid New York Mets fan and attended nearly 1,000 ball games at Shea Stadium in Queens. Perhaps fittingly, Armitstead died only a few days after the last remaining piece of that ballpark was leveled. He was also an honorary lifetime member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of more than 57 years, Bianca; one daughter, Nancy Armitstead of New York City; two sons, Alan Jackson Armitstead (wife, Petra) of Suffolk and John Auman Armitstead (wife, Ima) of Lexington, Kentucky; two brothers, Donald M. Armitstead of Seattle, Washington and Dr. Paul T. Armitstead of Waco, Texas, and five grandchildren: Christian, Jaclyn, Michael, Steven and Jonathan.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 27, at 11 a.m. in Sturtevant Funeral Home, Bennetts Creek Chapel, Suffolk celebrated by the Rev. Bob Weeks of Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery also in Suffolk.
Inscription
TEC5
US Army
World War II
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
