A memorial for a beloved Willingboro principal

The mood was far from somber at the J. Cresswell Stuart Elementary School in Willingboro this morning as students, faculty and staff celebrated the life of their late principal Douglas J. Austin.

"J.C. Stuart let's make some noise," Keith Ellerbe, principal of Memorial Upper Elementary School, shouted to a crowd of 500 cheering pre-kindergarten to fourth grade students.

"We are truly here to remember a friend, a friend who was just as loud as you are in the hallways, but in his loudness he had an admirable quality...he pushed for excellence," said Ellerbe.

The students continued to applaud for Austin, 52, who died Sept. 12 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital of complications from a stroke he suffered in late August. He has been a principal at Stuart for one year and before that was principal at Memorial.

Paper bowties were clipped to the necks of the students in Patrick Myers fourth grade class.

It's not something student Chinwendu Chukwu, 9, would ordinarily wear. But the bowtie was a heartfelt nod to a beloved principal who was known for wearing one every day.

"It's a little embarrassing," Chukwu said. "But it's a good way to remember Mr. Austin."

Under a bright blue morning sky, school officials cut the ribbon for a new playground that Austin had been instrumental in planning.

The ceremony also included a tribute poem written and recited by students, a performance by a local rhythm and blues group Natural Selection and a balloon release, where representatives from each grade let red and white balloons into the sky.

Justine Austin, Austin's wife of 16 years, said it has been difficult grasping the reality of her husband's death.

She said her husband grew up in Newark, N.J., and began his teaching career in New Jersey out of a desire to give back to his roots.

"Teaching was his calling," Austin said. "The kids around here called him Big Papa."

Douglas Austin Jr., one of Austin's three sons, said the service was a good way to remember his father.

"It was short and sweet," said Douglas, 25, a student at Delaware State University studying chemistry. "He didn't like long stuff."

He and his brothers, Nafis, 28, and Caison, 21, are from Austin's previous marriage.

Carlin Brown, a para-professional at J.C. Stuart and member of Natural Selection, said Austin was his principal when he attended Memorial Middle School in Willingboro.

"When I was young, he always pushed me to do better," said Brown, 23. "I went to the University of the Arts in Philly to pursue music."

Austin, who lived in Philadelphia, worked for nine years in Willingboro. After filing a whistleblower suit against the district with three other staff members in 2005, Austin was fired and then later rehired with benefits because of his tenure status.

Brita Theadford-Woodard, acting principal at J.C. Stuart, said after Austin's death a crisis management team was established.

"Around the school we have large pieces of paper posted, which allows students to write down anything they want about Mr. Austin," Theadford-Woodard said.

Third-grader Kory Hearn, 8, said he looked up to his principal. "I thought he was a cool guy," Hearn said as he wrote on the yellow piece of paper posted outside the boy's bathroom. "He would make people happy and want to stay at our school longer."

Justine Austin said looking at the students in their light blue and khaki uniforms was a reminder of her husband's dedication.

"At the end of the school year, Doug would take home old uniforms that children left behind and we would wash and press them to give to new students who did not have any," she said. "He would do anything for those kids."