Frederick Shuster MD

Dr. Frederick "Fred" Shuster of West Palm Beach, FL, and formerly of Miami Shores, FL, lost his battle with Parkinson's disease on December 6th. He was 87 years old. He was a soft spoken, honest, kind and gentle man who loved his family and the practice of Medicine. He is survived by Jane his wife of 62 years, by sons Alan R. Shuster, M.D. (Judy) of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Robert G. Shuster, Esq (Denise) of North Potomac, MD, by grandchildren Jennifer, Michael and Rachael, by his sister Gayle Frankel of Merion Station, PA, and by many nephews and nieces, cousins and friends. He was pre-deceased by his 5 year old brother, Elliot and parents, Anne and Ralph Shuster.

Dr. Shuster was born in Newark, NJ the son of pharmacist Ralph Shuster and Anne Shuster. Shuster's Drugs was the family business. In 1958 he married Jane Block, the dermatologist's daughter he met on a blond date. His training took them to many locations. His major academic and community achievements included receipt of the Rensselaer Mathematics Award and selection as Salutatorian of his Irvington High School class of 1951; Rutgers University (Pharmacy) BS 1955; University of Chicago (M.D.) 1959; internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor 1959-1962; and Gastroenterology at the University of Miami/V.A. Hospital 1962-1963. Thereafter he joined a group of North Miami Beach physicians and practiced 35 years of compassionate patient care until retirement. These 35 years of practice were interrupted by his being drafted into military service in 1967 for a 2 year tour of duty during the Vietnam conflict, where he proudly served at Fort Meade, MD as chief of Internal Medicine and Division of Gastroenterology. He was honorably discharged in 1969 at the rank of Major, to return to his private practice in South Florida.

Dr. Shuster was board certified in both Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology and was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and of Gastroenterology (FACG). At the University of Chicago School of Medicine he was elected to A.O.A. Medical Honor Society. He was chairman of the medical advisory committee to the newly formed Miami chapter of Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. He was Chief of Staff and Chief of Medicine at Parkway Regional Medical Center(now re-named "Jackson North"). He was an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami. His duties included the conduction of weekly bedside teaching rounds with University of Miami medical students, an activity he particularly enjoyed.

Over the years, Dr. Shuster enjoyed vacations with Jane abroad and at the summer home in Highlands, NC. He was a ballroom dancer. He enjoyed analyzing and investing in stocks (and even wrote a book on the subject), league bowling, dining out and playing with their poodle "Suzie". Upon retirement from practice in 1998, Fred and Jane relocated from Miami Shores, FL to the Riverwalk community in West Palm Beach, FL. He served as a community volunteer for the public library's adult literacy course, senior computer course and teacher's assistant for middle school math and reading. He was a member of "CERT", Riverwalk's "community emergency response team". He was an active member of Temple Beth Torah of Wellington, FL and served on its Board of Trustees. In his later years, he suffered from Parkinson's Disease, which severely curtailed his activities.

He will be missed. May his memory be a blessing. In light of COVID, funeral services will be confined to immediate family only at the gravesite. Donations in his memory may be made to Temple Beth Torah in Wellington, FL or to the charity of your choice.