At age 90, Austin H. Hathaway Jr. (a.k.a. “Buz” Hathaway) passed away peacefully in Pasadena on the morning of April 1st.
Born in Pasadena to Austin Hodge Hathaway Sr. and Mary Fletcher Hathaway, he spent his childhood years in Pasadena and San Marino, attending South Pasadena San Marino High School (Copa de Oro), where he met the love of his life, Sonia Reynolds. Sonia and Buz were a celebrated couple but were separated after graduation when Buz attended Claremont McKenna College (then called “Claremont Men’s College”) and Sonia was off to the University of Southern California.
Athletic and fit, Buz landed a position on the Claremont football team and after thoroughly enjoying his collage years he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Germany as a First Lieutenant until 1956 and upon his return to Southern California, was reunited with Sonia. They married on April 12, 1958, at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church in San Marino.
Buz and Sonia then relocated to Northern California and became proud parents of two children born at the Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto. Austin Hodge Hathaway III (a.k.a. “Trey”) born November of 1962 and Ashley Hathaway born April of 1966.
Prior to marrying Sonia, Buz began a long career in the moving, packing and storage business. First with Lyon Moving & Storage as V.P. of sales, then with Westport Packers as V.P. of operations before finally starting his own company, Western Pacific Crating Co in Los Angeles. His career brought the family of 4 back to San Marino in 1968 to a beautiful home on Plymouth Road where they enjoyed a long life together full of friends, family gatherings, holiday celebrations, vacations to Mexico, and relaxing by the pool at their vacation home in Indian Wells.
Buz had a deep passion for sports and the outdoors. He loved being at the beach in California and Mexico with Sonia and their many friends. He enjoyed surfing, particularly body surfing, in addition to deep sea and freshwater fishing. He was an avid upland game, duck hunter and skeet shooter and a member of La Grulla, Point Mugu Game Reserve and Wagas. In his later years he enjoyed playing golf and working out at the gym. Buz was also a proud 32nd degree Mason and active in several business, social and philanthropic organizations such as Rotary, Table Round, Los Angeles County Arboretum and the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena.
Buz is preceded in death by his wife Sonia (6/26/22) and is survived by his brother Harry, daughter Ashley (Tim Zgraggen), son Trey (Janet) as well as his 3 grandchildren Madison Hathaway, Georgia Hathaway and Taylor Hathaway.
No services will be held per Buz’s wishes. Donations in his honor may be made to the Los Angeles County Arboretum or the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena.
