Obituary for Michael Augustyniak
Michael Walter Augustyniak, 64, of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, passed away on September
24, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of 12 years to Caroline Barnes, he
was the son of Gertrude (Pezzner) Augustyniak and Walter Augustyniak of Barnegat, New
Jersey. He is survived by his wife Caroline and children Andrew (Drew) Augustyniak of
Northglenn, Colorado, and Casey Augustyniak of Westminster, Colorado, his father Walter of
Barnegat, New Jersey, his sister Nancy Brittelle and husband Doug of Blowing Rock, North
Carolina, his brother Paul Augustyniak and wife Susan McGregor of Rockaway, New Jersey, his
nephew Bill Brittelle and family of Brooklyn, New York, his niece Amy Augustyniak of Austin,
Texas, his mother and father-in-law Ruth and Jim Barnes of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and
his sister and brother-in-law Deborah and Julian Hardaker, also of Glenwood Springs, and their
daughters Kate and Claire.
Mike grew up in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and attended Rutgers University, earning a Bachelor
of Science in Environmental Planning and Design from Cook College in 1980. He soon began his
career with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), and became a true expert in the field of
Emergency Management. In his more than 33 years there, he developed policies and
procedures still in effect today, and trained countless others in their implementation. Mike was
an esteemed and beloved colleague and friend to many. Known to almost everyone as “Augie,”
he accomplished much in his long tenure with the NJSP, playing important and lasting roles in
many assignments. He worked in the Emergency Response Bureau and was the Emergency
Management Section’s hazardous materials (HAZMAT) expert. As an instructor, he developed
and conducted exercises, provided technical assistance visits and, over a period of five years,
almost single-handedly brought the HAZMAT annexes of the State’s 566 municipalities and 21
counties up to the standards demanded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). Later, when the Section reorganized, Mike moved to the Operational Planning Bureau
and served as a Shift Chief when the State Emergency Operations Center was activated. Mike
soon became the Section’s, and indeed several governors’, go-to-guy in weather situations
during hurricane season. He was instrumental in developing plans for the State’s new fusion
center, the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, and was a stalwart during the Y2K
transition and numerous major federal exercises. Mike also contributed his talents for several
years to the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), traveling nationally and
internationally to assess jurisdictions for accreditation, and playing a key role in the NJSP’s
initial accreditation and re-accreditation.
Mike was a deeply thoughtful and intellectual professional. He cared earnestly about the
mission and always saw the potential of the organization and strived untiringly to help
everyone achieve it. His knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of state agencies was
unsurpassed. He was unquestionably one of the most respected and versatile civilian
employees in New Jersey State Government.
After he retired, Mike continued to use his emergency management and planning skills as a
contractor, coordinating and developing policies for New Jersey Task Force 1, one of 28 FEMA
Urban Search and Rescue Teams. He assisted NJTF1 in gaining EMAP accreditation, and ensured
its policies and procedures met the benchmarks required to conform to FEMA Administrative
Readiness guidelines. Mike also co-taught several classes at the Emergency Management
Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland. And for a change of pace, he worked several hours a week
at the tiny and beloved Crosswicks Library in Crosswicks, New Jersey, a mile from his home, and
served as primary editor for his father’s book, Adventures of a Young Marine in WWII,
published in 2018.
Mike was incredibly warm and friendly, and a wonderful conversationalist. He made friends
easily, was very handy, and he greatly enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing at Round Valley
Reservoir and Long Beach Island in New Jersey. He was a wonderful cook, and he and Caroline
hosted many family gatherings at their Chesterfield, New Jersey, home in the ten years they
lived there before moving to Colorado. He also loved walking and hiking, and was very proud of
the fact that in 2019, he fulfilled a dream of his by completing a more than 14 mile hike around
Round Valley Reservoir.
In September 2020 he and Caroline fulfilled another dream of theirs by moving to Glenwood
Springs, Colorado, to be near her parents and sister and her family. They built a home in the
same neighborhood as the rest of Caroline’s family. Before he was diagnosed in Summer 2021
with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative illness, Mike was able to ski
and fish in Colorado, which he had been looking forward to doing for years. He lived longer with
this disease than many, and was able to enjoy being in his new home with its wonderful view of
the mountains. His family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all those who cared
for him during his illness, especially Mayra, Dori, Kathy and Megan, all of Homecare and
Hospice of the Valley in Glenwood Springs.
Mike was the best husband, father, brother, son, and friend anyone could ask for. We will
remember most his sense of humor and infectious laugh, his thoughtful and loving nature, his
cleverness and curiosity, and his incredible zest for life. And we will miss him forever. In the
words of his beloved Star Trek, may he “live long and prosper!”
A small memorial service for immediate family will be held at the Bethel Chapel of the
Glenwood Springs United Methodist Church in early November. A second service will be held in
New Jersey a year from now for family, friends and former colleagues on the East Coast, details
to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following organizations: The CJD
Foundation, www.cjdfoundation.org, Gear Forward, www.gearforward.org, an organization
that collects donations of gently used outdoor gear so children can enjoy the outdoors, and the
Sauerland Outdoor Center, www.sauerlandoutdoorcenter.org, formerly known as the Round
Valley Youth Center, at Round Valley Reservoir in New Jersey.
24, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of 12 years to Caroline Barnes, he
was the son of Gertrude (Pezzner) Augustyniak and Walter Augustyniak of Barnegat, New
Jersey. He is survived by his wife Caroline and children Andrew (Drew) Augustyniak of
Northglenn, Colorado, and Casey Augustyniak of Westminster, Colorado, his father Walter of
Barnegat, New Jersey, his sister Nancy Brittelle and husband Doug of Blowing Rock, North
Carolina, his brother Paul Augustyniak and wife Susan McGregor of Rockaway, New Jersey, his
nephew Bill Brittelle and family of Brooklyn, New York, his niece Amy Augustyniak of Austin,
Texas, his mother and father-in-law Ruth and Jim Barnes of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and
his sister and brother-in-law Deborah and Julian Hardaker, also of Glenwood Springs, and their
daughters Kate and Claire.
Mike grew up in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and attended Rutgers University, earning a Bachelor
of Science in Environmental Planning and Design from Cook College in 1980. He soon began his
career with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), and became a true expert in the field of
Emergency Management. In his more than 33 years there, he developed policies and
procedures still in effect today, and trained countless others in their implementation. Mike was
an esteemed and beloved colleague and friend to many. Known to almost everyone as “Augie,”
he accomplished much in his long tenure with the NJSP, playing important and lasting roles in
many assignments. He worked in the Emergency Response Bureau and was the Emergency
Management Section’s hazardous materials (HAZMAT) expert. As an instructor, he developed
and conducted exercises, provided technical assistance visits and, over a period of five years,
almost single-handedly brought the HAZMAT annexes of the State’s 566 municipalities and 21
counties up to the standards demanded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). Later, when the Section reorganized, Mike moved to the Operational Planning Bureau
and served as a Shift Chief when the State Emergency Operations Center was activated. Mike
soon became the Section’s, and indeed several governors’, go-to-guy in weather situations
during hurricane season. He was instrumental in developing plans for the State’s new fusion
center, the Regional Operations Intelligence Center, and was a stalwart during the Y2K
transition and numerous major federal exercises. Mike also contributed his talents for several
years to the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP), traveling nationally and
internationally to assess jurisdictions for accreditation, and playing a key role in the NJSP’s
initial accreditation and re-accreditation.
Mike was a deeply thoughtful and intellectual professional. He cared earnestly about the
mission and always saw the potential of the organization and strived untiringly to help
everyone achieve it. His knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of state agencies was
unsurpassed. He was unquestionably one of the most respected and versatile civilian
employees in New Jersey State Government.
After he retired, Mike continued to use his emergency management and planning skills as a
contractor, coordinating and developing policies for New Jersey Task Force 1, one of 28 FEMA
Urban Search and Rescue Teams. He assisted NJTF1 in gaining EMAP accreditation, and ensured
its policies and procedures met the benchmarks required to conform to FEMA Administrative
Readiness guidelines. Mike also co-taught several classes at the Emergency Management
Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland. And for a change of pace, he worked several hours a week
at the tiny and beloved Crosswicks Library in Crosswicks, New Jersey, a mile from his home, and
served as primary editor for his father’s book, Adventures of a Young Marine in WWII,
published in 2018.
Mike was incredibly warm and friendly, and a wonderful conversationalist. He made friends
easily, was very handy, and he greatly enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing at Round Valley
Reservoir and Long Beach Island in New Jersey. He was a wonderful cook, and he and Caroline
hosted many family gatherings at their Chesterfield, New Jersey, home in the ten years they
lived there before moving to Colorado. He also loved walking and hiking, and was very proud of
the fact that in 2019, he fulfilled a dream of his by completing a more than 14 mile hike around
Round Valley Reservoir.
In September 2020 he and Caroline fulfilled another dream of theirs by moving to Glenwood
Springs, Colorado, to be near her parents and sister and her family. They built a home in the
same neighborhood as the rest of Caroline’s family. Before he was diagnosed in Summer 2021
with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and fatal neurodegenerative illness, Mike was able to ski
and fish in Colorado, which he had been looking forward to doing for years. He lived longer with
this disease than many, and was able to enjoy being in his new home with its wonderful view of
the mountains. His family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all those who cared
for him during his illness, especially Mayra, Dori, Kathy and Megan, all of Homecare and
Hospice of the Valley in Glenwood Springs.
Mike was the best husband, father, brother, son, and friend anyone could ask for. We will
remember most his sense of humor and infectious laugh, his thoughtful and loving nature, his
cleverness and curiosity, and his incredible zest for life. And we will miss him forever. In the
words of his beloved Star Trek, may he “live long and prosper!”
A small memorial service for immediate family will be held at the Bethel Chapel of the
Glenwood Springs United Methodist Church in early November. A second service will be held in
New Jersey a year from now for family, friends and former colleagues on the East Coast, details
to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of the following organizations: The CJD
Foundation, www.cjdfoundation.org, Gear Forward, www.gearforward.org, an organization
that collects donations of gently used outdoor gear so children can enjoy the outdoors, and the
Sauerland Outdoor Center, www.sauerlandoutdoorcenter.org, formerly known as the Round
Valley Youth Center, at Round Valley Reservoir in New Jersey.