- George J. Shuster, 70, of Oxford, died peacefully at home on Saturday, August 30, 2008. He was the husband of Jeanne F. (O'Leary) Shuster.

Mr. Shuster was born February 22, 1938 in Shelton, son of the late John and Rose (Urbanovich) Shuster. He attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and graduated from Shelton high School in 1955. For years, he served with the US Army National Guard in Connecticut. George was a home builder and owner of Shuster Real Estate in Oxford for over 20 years. He was member of the Connecticut Realtors Association, the Valley Board of Realtors and the Waterbury Board of Realtors. He was a certified Residential Appraiser and held and Insurance Brokers license. He served on the Oxford Planning and Zoning Commission and was member of the Democratic Town Committee for many years and also served as its Chairman.

During his retirement, he enjoyed spending time with his loving family, traveling, writing poetry, building homes. He nurtured his love for music by teaching himself how to play the violin, fiddle and guitar. He enjoyed playing so much that he purchased several instruments and refurbished them into musical works of art. George had a great sense of humor and loved to say and do things to create a sense of surprise and wonder. His grandchildren were one of his greatest delights and in addition to enjoying his ability to be silly, they loved hearing stories about his life and learning new things from their wonderful Grandpa George.

Besides his loving wife of 48 years, he leaves a son, Mark K. Shuster and his wife Soomi of, VA, daughters Kathleen Rumford and her husband Tim of VA, and Jean Little and her husband Robert of Massachusetts, son Gerard J. Shuster of Seymour and Karl P. Shuster and Leanne Frate of Ansonia, 10 grandchildren: Alyssa, Kaila, Karlee, J. Austin, Kaysee, Heather, Elisa, David, Sabrina and Katrina, four brothers, Zigmund, Gerard, Edward and Leon Shuster, two sisters, Martha Piwowarski and Rosemarie Varsanik and many nephews and nieces and other relatives and very close friends.

He was predeceased by his half brothers, Walter and Bruno Shuster and Anthony Jacevich and a sister Anna (Shuster) Jaroszewski Leon.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., Wallingford, CT 06492 and for online donations: americanheart.org.

Cemetery: Cemetery Not Applicable

Location: Munson-Lovetere Southbury

Funeral: St. Thomas the Apostle

Services: A memorial Mass celebrating George's life will be held on Friday September 5th at 10 a.m., at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 733 Oxford Rd. Oxford.

Visitation: Family and friends may call the Southbury Funeral Home of Munson-Lovetere, 235 Main St. North on Thursday from 4-7 p.m.