Remembering Dennis R. Austin: Co-founder of Microsoft PowerPoint Passes Away

Dennis R. Austin, who played a key role in creating Microsoft PowerPoint, passed away at the age of 76. Austin served as the principal software developer for PowerPoint from 1985 to 1996, particularly for its versions for Apple Macintosh computers.

After being exposed to the graphical user interface and broader graphical approach to computing at Xerox PARC, he became a software developer for Gavilan Computer before joining Forethought, Inc. in late 1984. At Forethought, Robert Gaskins launched an effort to develop graphical presentation software, which became PowerPoint, for which he worked as an architect.

Austin served as the principal developer for PowerPoint, contributing to its design and implementation. Tom Rudkin later joined the project and made significant programming contributions with Austin. After Microsoft acquired Forethought in 1987, Austin continued as a principal developer for PowerPoint until 1996.