Austin Edward McClendon, Jr.
July 17, 1934 - July 04, 2016
Obituary
MADISON- Austin McClendon passed away on Monday, July 4, 2016. He was born in Mississippi and came to the University of Wisconsin for his undergraduate degree. He then lived in New York, Chicago and San Francisco for short periods before making Madison his lifelong home. Austin owned and operated the Uptown Café on State Street in the 60's where the Steve Miller Band, Boz Scaggs and Ben Sidran performed early in their careers. He later attended the UW-Madison Law School and subsequently worked for the State of Wisconsin in the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice and the Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations on job training initiatives. After leaving the state service, he worked as the deputy director of a private non-profit agency in Milwaukee that did job training projects. After retiring, he ran his own food cart business, Silky's Dogs and Brats, late night on or near State Street and before UW-Madison Football Games for ten years before retiring from that business four years ago. Austin worked as a poll worker for elections and as an appointed citizen member of the City of Madison Downtown Coordinating Committee since retiring. He was a lifelong patron of Jazz, possessing a wealth of knowledge about jazz masters, having seen many of them in live performances over the years. Austin was an avid fan of the UW-Badgers sports teams, the Brewers, Bucks and Packers. Austin is survived by his partner and soulmate of 45 years, Lauren Mikol; their two daughters, Nichele (McClendon) Lindstrom of Austin, Texas and Kayla McClendon of Madison; grandson, George Lindstrom; his two sons by a previous marriage, Mark McClendon of Milwaukee and his children, Terrence, Monica and Angela and Scott McClendon of Chicago, Ill., and his children, Ashley and Ebony; three great-grandchildren, Terrence Jr, Micah and Alanna; and many friends and relatives all over the country. A Celebration of Life will be held at OLIN PARK, 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison, from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. Memorials may be made in Austin's name to the Greater Madison Jazz Consortium - http://www.jazzinmadison.org/donate/.
Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
Events
Celebration of Life
Sun Aug 28, 2016 @ 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM CDT
Olin Park • 1156 Olin-Turville Ct., Madison, WI null
Photos
Memories
LM
Lauren Mikol
Other •
When I met and fell in love with Austin, I told him I was not looking for a long-term relationship. That formed the foundation of our 46 years together, staying together because we chose to stay together! Lauren
CH
Corie Hamer
Other •
I took this photo at the Mellor Cabin in Aug 2013. Austin and I were quiet around each other, but I appreciated his sharing his time with us at the cabin. He enjoyed some of the short hikes and enjoyed the outdoors with the rest of us. I am so glad we shared that time together. Austin, you will be missed. You brought quiet reflection, peace, and tranquility to the cabin. Love Corie
KM
Kayla McClendon
Other •
“What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” --Helen Keller
+ 33
ZB
Zachary Berk
Other •
When I first met Austin back in 1966, Austin was running the Uptown Cafe and I was looking for a job. I first started as a waiter and then became the cook (not chief). So there we were together, Austin was out front managing things and I was out in the back cooking. I had never cooked before but i had experience eating.
What I always love to tell is that Austin ran the Cafe with minimum cash flow so there were times when I would get an order for a salad and I would have to get some cash from Austin so I could run around the corner to the Stop and Shop on State Street to buy a head of lettuce! I had to run fast so I get the salad to the customer before they would complain.
The times I spent with Austin at the Cafe formed the foundation of my friendship and love of Austin. Through the years we kept in touch and on my visits to Madison after I moved back to NYC, I would always make sure I saw Austin when I came to Madison.
I love Austin because we always had this wonderful connection and deep bond. He also knew more about me than almost anyone I knew because he had seen me in so many important phases of my life.
Austin was a close friend.
Zach
PS
Paul Soglin
Other •
My earliest memories go back to my freshman year, 1962.; Austin playing bridge in the Rat. Bob Parks and I were to play him and his partners over the years; it was a rare day that we could best them - that anyone can beat them.
There are so many memories, music, the Uptown but the most memorable was a cold, freezing Madison day during the winter of 1964-65.
We were raising money for SNCC. I was surprised as we discussed it over cards, when Austin said he would do something. Austin never went to meetings and rarely could be lured into mass group activities. I asked him what he had planned and he just smiled, that quiet Austin-knowing-smile with a slight nod.
The next morning I headed to class and went to the Union. Out front on Langdon was Austin all bundled up. He stood next to a little food cart calling out "Hot Chestnuts, Chestnuts!" Till this day I have no idea where he got the cart, the Chestnuts, or had a clue as to how to prepare them.
Paul Soglin
JD
Joe Davis
Other •
Met Austin hanging around Ben Sidran's house in the mid-afternoons around 1970, 2, 3 -- hung out, talked jazz, played ball -- a memorable individual whose ways of the world attitude appealed to the new yorker in me. Kept up the connection in the ensuing decades and glad we linked up again, over jazz, the past few years. Adios old friend.