Austin Mamo

Austin Mamo of Canton passed away on September 30, 2025, at the age of 84. He was born on June 19, 1941, in Sliema, Malta, to Richard and Pauline Mamo.

Beloved husband of Patricia for 61 wonderful years. Loving father of Julie (JeƯery) Ford, Eileen (Yvan) Le Gall, and Mary Comar. Cherished grandfather of Rachel, Aidene, Kohl, Chelsea, Samantha and Hannah. Dear brother of Miriam (the late Arthur) Flanigan, Lucy (Lito) Estrellado, and Maurice (Amy) Mamo. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and his loyal dog and faithful companion, Duncan, who will miss him dearly.

Austin was a man of many passions, talents, and curiosities. His love for music filled the home and hearts of those around him including his guitar playing on Sunday masses here at St. John Neumann. Some of Dad’s favorite genres were reggae and flamenco, however, being the talented musician he was, he recorded over 800 original songs using multiple keyboards in his home music studio, creating a lifetime collection of work that reflected his creativity and joy.

His fascination with astronomy revealed another side of his brilliance. A self-taught scientist and craftsman, Austin built his own 5+ foot telescope from scratch—grinding the mirrors himself and constructing a massive, mechanical tripod that perfectly tracked the movement of the Earth, allowing him to capture crystal-clear images of the stars and planets. He even developed his own photography in a darkroom he built in the basement, a testament to his patience and precision.

Beyond his technical and artistic genius, Austin had a tender heart, especially for animals. One of Julie’s favorite memories was from around 1975: “I was walking home from school when I spotted a little black bunny. After about an hour, I managed to catch him and brought him home. Dad immediately went to the hardware store, built a fancy home for him, and that bunny became part of our family for years.”

One of Eileen’s favorite memories was listening to Dad play guitar singing Stella at a motel we all stayed in during a family trip, but most of all knowing he was always there for us.

One of Mary’s favorite memories was the time spent at our family cottage fishing with Dad. We’d spend hours out on the canals, and he always knew exactly how to get close to the weeds, and say “that’s where the bass like to hide”. He taught me how to cast a reel and made sure I learned to take my own fish off the hook. Dad loved fishing.

Austin’s life was a beautiful symphony of music, science, creativity, and compassion. He inspired everyone who knew him with his curiosity, humor, and boundless love for learning. His legacy will live on in his songs, his creations, and in the hearts of all who loved him. Above all else, dad’s love for God, and our mom, Patricia are what I think we will all remember the most.

A memorial gathering will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 10:30 until the time of Mass 11:00, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 44800 Warren Rd, Canton Township, MI 48187. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Kidney Foundation.