Fred Shuchart

Fred was born in St. Louis, Missouri to Al and Jean Shuchart on April 9, 1960. He attended St. Louis Country Day School and was later inducted into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his baseball achievements. He graduated Duke University, a fact he never shied away from telling everyone while proudly flashing his ring. He lived for Duke Basketball and got to see them in the Final Four twice, the first time in 1991 when the Devils won their first national championship and the last in April of this year when they lost to U of H. He claimed to be THE original “Cameron Crazy” and there can be little doubt that his booming bass voice rang through the rafters at “Cameron Indoor”. He begrudgingly left Duke to complete his Juris Doctorate at Washington University in St. Louis. Fred started in private practice when he took a job with “Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages” as an Associate General Counsel. He was assigned to manage Texas Litigation, not knowing that his life would soon change forever. His first duty was to introduce himself to the Texas attorneys handling “Yellow Pages” cases. When he contacted a young female attorney in Houston late on an April afternoon in 1989, he was rebuffed. Despite the fact that this Mr. Shuchart was a client’s new representative, the attorney flatly told him that she had no time for his call because it was “Opening Day” and she had tickets on the third base line. And that began a romance that lasted for 35 beautiful years. By “Opening Day” in 1990, Fred had moved to Texas and would marry that young attorney a few weeks later. Their first child was born on Opening Day in 1993.

After moving to Texas, Fred became an Insurance Law specialist and was involved in some of the most significant cases in that field. He appeared before the Texas Supreme Court and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He taught seminars all over the state and became an adjunct professor at South Texas College of Law. He also co-taught at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and was named as a “Texas Super Lawyer” for almost 2 decades. His booming voice was a frequent fixture at SBMSA football and baseball games where Fred coached his son’s Little League teams. There was never any doubt as to what field he was coaching on. Later, Fred was an active participant in Harris County Politics. While he ran for a district judge position four times, unsuccessfully, he was overjoyed when his wife was elected to the 61st District Court in November 2024.

Fred is survived by the love of his life, the Honorable Lee Kathryn Shuchart and his children, Emily Stablein and Stephen Shuchart, their spouses Andy Stablein and Jaelen Brock as well as his grandson, Benjamin Stablein. Brothers, John and Jay Shuchart, sisters-in-law, Vickie and Stevie, as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by many Wise, Maschan, Shirley and Worley cousins. He loved his family with his whole heart and never ceased to brag on them. He was so proud of his wife’s beautiful singing voice and encouraged her for decades. He also loved nothing more than standing over a barbeque pit, bourbon in hand, grilling hamburgers, steaks and swordfish for everyone. He forged lifelong friendships with Beth and Richard Sewell while cooking at the Dads’ Club Swim Team meets. It was the only meet in town where the main attraction was at the concession stand, rather than the pool.

Graveside services will be held at United Hebrew Cemetery in St. Louis, MO at 2:30 p.m on Sunday, May 25, where he will be laid to rest alongside his parents and brother of blessed memory. Berger Memorial Chapel will be handling funeral arrangements. A memorial service will be held in Houston on June 7, 2025, at Christ Presbyterian Church. Time is set for 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in his name to “Birthright Israel”. Fred cherished the memories of his 2007 family trip to the Holy Land and wanted others to share that experience.

His family and friends will miss him always and will cherish that his last night was spent surrounded by his loved ones in a hotel lobby where he held court until the hotel staff closed down the party.

Fred was a one-of-a-kind man who lived life on his own terms.