Salim Moutaz Osta

Salim Moutaz Osta passed away peacefully at Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, Georgia, on June 5, 2023. Dr. Osta was born in Damascus, Syria, on May 10, 1937. His surviving family include his wife and lifelong companion, Jean Anne (Jan) Smith Osta; daughter, Johayna Osta; sons, Ismael Salim Osta and Omar Nabil Osta (Kathy); brother, Mohamad Samih Al Osta; sisters, Salma Al Osta and Osima Al Osta Pharaon; grandchildren, Jada Strickland and Braxton Salim Osta; two nieces and four nephews; and two cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ismail Ibrahim Al Osta and Fatema Mahmoud Al Badrawi Al Osta; and brother, Mohamad Nabil Al Osta.

Dr Osta completed all his initial Syrian education in Arabic and subsequently graduated from the Damascus University Medical School in 1962. Simultaneously, during his university studies, he acquired the requisite medical books in English from a friend at the University of Beirut, Lebanon. On his own initiative, he taught himself all the medical terminology in English, in order to pass the ECFMG and earn an internship at Huron Road Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1962. On the very first night of his service at Huron Road, he met Jan’s mother, who informed him with a twinkle her eye, that she had a daughter who played tennis. The rest is history.

Medical residencies were earned throughout the US, including Regional Medical Center, Memphis, TN, and Fort Howard VA Hospital and University of Maryland. He was awarded a fellowship to University of Miami in Hematology and Oncology in 1967. Afterwards, he returned to Syria for three and a half years to fulfill his required military service as a physician. Dr. Osta, with wife Jan as office manager, established his first oncology practice on St. Simons Island; subsequently he built his own office building in Brunswick near the hospital. Dr. Osta, after retiring in 2014 from his Oncology Medical Center, became the sponsoring physician for his son’s practice, House Calls of Coastal Georgia.

He was an avid tennis player, loved opera, and enjoyed travel, especially taking Jan and his children back to his hometown of Damascus for family gatherings and authentic Syrian cuisine. Starting in 2022, Dr. Osta, with Jan and other partners, began competitive duplicate bridge at the Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Center on St. Simons. He was especially proud of his regional award, from Unit 22, won as a novice player.

Friends and family are invited to a visitation, Thursday, June 8, at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home, from 5:00-7:00 pm. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, June 9, 11:00 am, at Edo Miller Chapel. Graveside services will follow at Oglethorpe Memorial Gardens. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 10, 12:00 PM at Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Center, 114 Skylane Dr., St. Simons.

Memorial gifts may be sent to Golden Isles Duplicate Bridge Center, c/o Lynn Goldblatt, 1440 Ocean Blvd, #319, St Simons, GA.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.edomillerandsons.com for the Osta family.