Stephen Shuster

Stephen Shuster, 89, long time Greensburg educator, died peacefully at home on Friday February 5, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. Steve fought a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born in Windber, son of the late Stefan and Katherine Hrebik Shuster, who immigrated to this country from Czechoslovakia in the early 1900's. His father was a coal miner and made his sons promise they would never work in the mines. Steve was the first in his family to go to college. While studying at Indiana State Teacher's College, he met the love of his life, Doris Jean Smith, who he married after the war in 1946. During his college years, Steve competed as a boxer at the national level, earned a berth on the tennis team, and was a standout diver on the swim team. He graduated in 1943 with a degree in Business Education. He reported immediately to Midshipmen's school at Notre Dame University, achieving the rank of Ensign. He served aboard the USS Calvert and the USS Bronx in the Pacific theatre, ending his war service as a lieutenant JG in 1946. Steve continued to serve in the Naval Reserves for another 11 years, retiring as a full lieutenant.

Steve received his Master's degree in Business in 1947 from the University of Pittsburgh. He began a 37 year career with Greensburg-Salem School District, first as a teacher, and later as head of the Business Department. In the early 1970's, Steve became the Director of Computer Services for the District and under his leadership, Greensburg-Salem became the first school in the region with computerized attendance and grading records. His family recalls nights when Steve came home near dawn, while getting the new system up and running. Later he was asked to become Business Manager for the School District, serving in that role until his retirement in 1984. During his years at Greensburg-Salem, Steve particularly enjoyed mentoring young people, spending 9 years as the assistant wrestling coach and another 17 years as golf coach. His 1956 golf team won the WPIAL Championship. Steve remained a consummate teacher and coach throughout his lifetime, instructing his children and grandchildren on the finer points of diving, driving, golf and carpentry. He did home improvements in all his children's homes, never visiting without his toolbox.

Steve and Jean had eight children and with a growing family, Steve needed to supplement his income. For fifteen years, he worked as a carpenter during the summer months and helped build many homes in the Northmont area including the family home. Steve and his close friend ran "Shuster and Garrity" tax and auditing business for almost 50 years. He also owned and operated the Greensburg Driving School for a dozen years, starting in the early 1960's. Steve thrived on being busy and always went off to the next job whistling or singing.

Steve was an avid golfer, (with several holes-in-one to his credit), and an active member of the Hannastown Golf Club. He was delighted when his youngest son, Jon, became a golf professional. Steve was proud of all his children, and perhaps proudest of the fact that they all have college degrees, and most have advanced degrees. With 8 children, 25 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild, he felt that he and Jean were the wealthiest couple in town. The greatest sorrow of his life was the death of his son, Stephen H., in 1980. He was further saddened by the deaths of his son-in-law, Michael DuBois, and his youngest brother, Michael, in 1981. In addition, he was preceded in death by three infant brothers, his older brother John, and sisters Katherine Haschak, Mary Mickle, and Ann Mickle.

Steve is survived by his devoted wife of 64 years, Jean Smith Shuster; one sister, Helen Buydos, and one sister-in-law, Helen Conjelko, both of Windber; six daughters, Lynn Shuster of New Cumberland, Keith Papp Shuster and husband John of Nokesville, VA, Jeanne Morrow and husband Fred of New Bloomfield, Lee Stiteler and husband Norman of Madisonville, LA, Kim Shuster-DuBois and husband Richard of Mechanicsburg, and Jan Shuster of Norvelt; one son, Jon Shuster and wife Lynnette of Beaver; twenty-five grandchildren: Kelly Broscious (David), Joel DuBois (Amy), Kimberly Arnold, Christopher Jamieson, Michael (Ramsey), James, Kelemen (Bree), Andrew (Jenn) and Leanna Papp, Ian and Alyse Morrow, Lisa Galeano (Luis), Maria Elena, Gabriela, Peter, Alexis and Dietrich Stiteler, Emma, Michael and Jordan DuBois, Lia, Dana and Ty Edmunds, Jakob and Vaughn Shuster; nine great-grandchildren: Wyatt and Clara Broscious, Jonas and Sloane DuBois, Connor, Libby, Phillip, and Reagan Papp, and Christina Robledo; and one great-great grandchild, Braylon Uyson. He is also survived by several cousins and many nieces and nephews, including Betty (Dolly) Maruschock of Greensburg.

Friends will be received on Friday from 6-9 p.m. in the Kepple-Graft Funeral Home at 524 North Main Street in Greensburg, with a funeral service at 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Divine Liturgy be held Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Michael's Orthodox Church, 1182 Ashland Avenue in Greensburg, with Steve's priest Father Miles Zdinak as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Clair Cemetery in Greensburg with military honors bestowed by VFW Post 33 Honor Guard. Terence L. Graft, funeral director, entrusted with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Steve's church, SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, 141 Hoffman Farm Road in Windber, PA 15963 or the Greensburg Recreation Department, 520 New Alexandria Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. The family wishes to thank all the folks at Interim Hospice as well as Barbara Hall, CNA, for the loving care Steve received during his last months. They also wish to thank Father John Nosal and his congregation for graciously providing the use of St. Michael's Orthodox Church for the funeral service.