Dudley Autio Obituary

He lives on in all of us fortunate enough to have crossed his path! I never go through a day without thinking of him and Fanny!

He saved my life. He was so kind and very patient with my recovery.

I remember the time Else and I stayed over night with Dudley and Fanny when we were on our way driving to Florida. We had our Airedale with us and she had to "inspect" the whole house, even going upstairs.

One time at our home in CT we were expecting a visit from Dudley the next day, but at 3AM I heard some noise downstairs so I made our Airedale go downstairs before I went to see if there was an intruder. When I got downstairs there was Dudley, and our Airedale was cowering on the couch. I guess Dudley had less traffic than he planned on!

When I was visiting Dudley in New Hampshire in the late 50's my 10 year old red Cadillac convertible for which I had paid $300 just died as I was cruising along the Hampton Beach shore. I was able to reach Dudley by phone and get the car towed back to the garage in "Happy Hampton". I was taking with Dudley in the family store when he got a phone call and suggested I have a seat. The bad news was that the car was not repairable without taking out the radiator and engine. I got enough for it as a junk car in order to buy busfare home. I also remember riding around to several banks with Dudley to make deposits to cover accounts as the money was tight at that time. We also played a round of golf while I was there, an endeavor at which I was the only one in my family with out that particular skill. My ball went into the side of a bunker and I succeeded only in driving it deeper into the turf. Dudley came over, lifted the ball out of where it was dug in, placed it on top of the bunker and said "Try again Schulze!" I think of Dudley and his mother Mildred every time I write a check, because I copied her way of writing the word "and" on a slant when writing dollars and cents. So many memories of Dudley and the group of American expatriots in Vienna in 1956. Best to you and your family, Fanny. Gene

Our Condolences to Fanny and family as I just came across this notice. Impressed with the messages from persons with fond memories of Dudley, just as we have. We'll miss him just as all his friends do.

When Dr. Autio opened his private office at 315 Calhoun St. in downtown Charleston, S.C., he hired me as his secretary. After about 16 yrs. of working together downtown we had to leave the building that was owned by Roper Hospital and find a new place to set up shop. It was to Summerville we went but for me things were never the same. At 315 Calhoun St., the space was very intimate and cozy with plants that after 36 yrs., the very same ones, are now back at his home on James Island and flourishng after all these years. You see, the Dr. Autio I knew as an employee, was full of love of the earth in so many aspects. He always had plants surrounding him and took delight in gardening. He was an avid bird-watcher and loved having them visit the front porch where he placed a water center for them. I have never worked for such a dear person before. His care in little things was a great example to me. He took delight in making his special brew of coffee which he prepared and made for certain coffee-loving patients.
He was my boss yet so much more to me. When I moved on with my life, we remained in touch for all these years and Fanny and I have become life-long friends. I know we will be able to cry and laugh together and hopefully the laughter and remembrances will be able to heal some of the immediate loss. Goodbye, my dear boss, thank you for your sweetness and kindness to me and for putting up with my short-comings for so many years. The world we cannot see with our eyes must be holding you tight in its' arms for you are one of the special ones that have passed this way

Dudley Autio was a Scout in Troop 177 of Hampton, New Hampshire for over five years. He earned the Eagle Scout rank on the 2nd of October 1946 along with three other members of Troop 177. He continued to serve the troop as a junior leader for at least another three years. We are proud of his accomplishments and thankful for the time he spent with us. We send our condolences to his family and friends.

I livied at Hampton Beach and Hampton, N.H. for over 60 years and remember Dudley as his parents owned businesses at Hampton Beach for many years. He attened local schools and may have rode the bus with me to school.
My prayers and thoughts are with you at this sad time. May God Bless!
Phyllis Hefler
Springield , Ohio formerly of H
Hampton and Portsmouth N.H. I was formerly Phyllis Stickney

As a patient of over 20 years, I was privy to his devotion to his chosen profession. He was truly the "best of the best". He saved my life and I am forever grateful for that.
My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family. He will always be in my heart and memories. God rest his soul.

My deepest sympathy to the family.My mother Jane Wall who worked with Dr. Autio always spoke very highly of him, I know if she were still here she would of been saddened at his passing.

It was with great sadness that I learned of Dr. Autio death. He was the best of the best and I so enjoyed my years of working with him. His love and support for his family as well as his patients was an inspiration to all of us. He has left us with many good memories.

Dr Autio was a kind soul who helped me during a difficult time in my life. I never forgot him. He always had time for me whatever the hour. I'm sad for his family's loss.

My heart-felt sympathies are extended to my friend, Dudley Autio's family; I was deeply saddened to learn of his passing.

I want to relay a personal story to help celebrate Dudley's love of the outdoors and particularly the sea. It's a story about a day of fishing I shared with him and a few friends in June of 1981.
I came to know Dudley professionally because I worked for a pharmaceutical company and would often visit him to discuss medications that might prove beneficial to his patients. He was always eager to discuss our mutual love of fishing as well.
It was during one of these visits that I invited him to come with me on a fishing trip out to "Dynamite Hole" at the Charleston jetties to catch the big Channel Bass that often frequented this prized fishing spot. It turned out to be the best day of fishing I ever had in the more than 40 years of fishing in Charleston.

Dudley wondered if there was room to include his friend Art Traub who would be visiting in a few days and who was an avid fisherman from Utah. We scheduled a trip for Father's Day, June 21st and my friend Ernie Byers was also invited to come along. It was a beautiful summer day and we had no problem finding a school of menhaden just off Morris Island; they would be caught with a cast net and kept alive in the live well. We proceeded to Dynamite Hole and used a one and a half oz. egg sinker to lower the menhaden just above the rocks that were submerged 20 feet below.

What happened next was a marvel I will never forget as long as I live. Every time a live menhaden was lowered, it was immediately engulfed by a redfish weighing between ten and thirty pounds each. Several times all four of us were simultaneously hooked up with fish, making runs that caused the line to scream off fishing reels in every conceivable direction.

I had a nineteen foot Robalo back then, powered by twin 70hp Johnson engines. The transom was low; there were scuppers designed to facilitate seawater flowing back out the splashwell. With the fury of four men fighting fish, and the following sea coming over the transom, it was non-stop action and the scuppers were not working. I saw water cresting just below the engines and redfish coming off the hooks and landing in the boat. The menhaden started swimming out of the bait-well along with a big red or two that was inadvertently released in the boat. It was a miracle we didn't sink!

When all the madness started to get manageable, we had caught 17 channel bass estimated to be between 15 to 25 lbs. We kept six fish to eat and released the remaining eleven. We would have had to release them all by today's fishing regulations; they would be deemed over the 22 inch slot size.

Even though the number of fishing trips to Dynamite Hole have lessened over the years, that day remains the pinnacle for fishing at the jetties. There was never a trip that could compare to it. Ernie and I joked to each other, when Art Traub went back to Utah and the freshwater trout streams, he would always think Charleston was the Mecca of salt-water fishing!

I think it's important to keep the wonderful memories alive of loved ones who have passed before us. And so it's with this story, I share the memory of Dudley and remember that day more than thirty years ago when the thrill, the amazement, and the smile etched in his face said it all. I'll miss you Dudley!

Sweet Fanny,
I know you will miss your dear husband so much.You are very much in our thoughts and prayers.

John and Judy Spence

My sympathy to the family for the loss of such a kind and gentle spirit.

In the Summer of 1984, Dr. Autio saved my life. I am eternally grateful to him for treating me with kindness and teaching me how to live. Heaven has gained an angel as Dr. Autio's Earthly work is complete. Light, Love & Blessings to his family.

My condolences go out to the Autio Family.
I worked with Dr. Autio at Trident Hospital for many years, He was great a mentor for me. He was funny, smart, Kind, and above all devoted to his family.
I will miss him, but never forget him.

My deepest sympathy goes to his wonderful wife and family. He was truley a great man. His care and kindness saved countless lives. There was never a doubt about his amazing skills, care, and kindness. He was greatly missed when he retired and will be forever in our hearts. Thank you for all your efforts always. Blessings and love, C.A.Harris

Fanny,
Richard and I are heartbroken at the loss of Dudley. We will surely miss his daily walks around the neighborhood and his loving smile. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.