Austin "Buddy" Judge, age 73, of Salem, NH passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of January 26, 2025 at Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH after a battle with lung and brain cancer. Born on September 27, 1951, Austin was the son of the late Rosetta (Cacchione) Judge and grandson of the late Allie and Rita (DeCuento) Cacchione.

Austin was an expert transmission technician and mechanic. He was proud of his skills and knowledge when it came to anything with an engine. Over the years, he owned his own transmission shop in Plaistow, NH and a gas station in Manchester, NH, before retiring to take care of his mother.

An avid outdoorsman, Austin loved to hunt and forage in the woods for mushrooms and fiddleheads. He also enjoyed spending his days at the beach, whether fishing at the Salisbury Reservation or grabbing a slice of Tripoli's pizza. Austin loved the Three Stooges, scratch tickets and playing the lottery, telling jokes, and pretending he wasn't sleeping, even when his eyes were closed and he was snoring. "I'm just inspecting my eyelids," he would say. Austin was proud of his Italian heritage and would frequently sprinkle Italian words into his conversations. He was a loyal friend and father, who would drop what he was doing, anytime anyone called him.

Austin is survived by his son Eric Judge of Salem, NH, daughter Andrea DeFusco and her husband Frank of Atkinson, NH, granddaughter Anya Judge, longtime girlfriend Leona Chase and her family, former wife Mary Jane Breen, and cousin Anita Mesiti.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Sweet Paws Rescue, 310 Main St, Groveland, MA 01834.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 4:00pm to 6:00 pm at Carrier Funeral Home, 38 Range Road, Windham, NH. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit: www.carrierfuneralhome.com .