Robert C. Juster

Robert Juster, age 78 of Wayne, died peacefully on June 11 in hospice care at Sunrise Memory Care in Wayne after a short battle with cancer.

Bob was born to Charles and Alvina Juster, nee Vacca, in 1942 in East Orange and grew up in Clifton, NJ.  He enjoyed growing up and playing with his two younger brothers, Chuck and Jim, and later on with little sister Marianne. Bob also loved being a part of a large extended family. He was one of the oldest of over 30 first cousins.

Bob attended St. Benedict’s Prep School in Newark where he ran cross country and track. While in high school, Bob decided he would like to apply to the University of Notre Dame. He found it very funny that his counselor was not sure he would be admitted, but Bob applied anyway, securing a spot in the Class of 1963. He studied Civil Engineering and continued to run cross country and track while at Notre Dame. He enjoyed rooting for the Fighting Irish football team despite the losing record they had during his four years. His ND legacy includes his two brothers, daughter Suzanne, and two nephews who all followed him there. Bob loved cheering for all the Irish sports teams throughout his life.

After college, Bob served as a First Lieutenant in the Army. He was an ammunitions officer. While stationed in Fort Devens, MA, he ran in the Boston Marathon.  He was very proud of this accomplishment. While serving in the Army, he also received a Commendation Medal.

Upon leaving the Army after his service term was completed, he worked as a civil engineer. He was proud to have his Professional Engineer license. He worked as a civil engineer until 1980. At that time he became a self-taught computer programmer for a large construction company. His technical mind and experience enabled him to create techniques that allowed the company to complete hours of manual work into a half hour on the computer.  He retired in 2006.

On April 16, 1966, he married Gail Wilkinson. They settled in Wayne, where they raised their two daughters, Cathie and Suzanne. Bob was a very involved father.  He was an Indian Princess leader and coach of many youth sports teams in the community. As his daughters got older, he was always there to support them and was so happy when both settled in Packanack Lake with their families. Bob was a proud Packanack Lake resident (living in three different homes there) for over 50 years.

Bob always said his greatest accomplishment was his family. He was immensely proud of his daughters, sons-in-law, and his four adored grandchildren, and all their talents. He loved attending everything from track meets, to dance recitals, to gymnastics meets, to basketball and lacrosse games. Everyone who knew him, from his neighbors to the staff at Sunrise, knew all about his family.

While he loved to play tennis and to go bowling, his passion was running. For decades after his high school/college running career, he ran in several races per year. He ran the Giralda Farms 10K each fall since the early 1980s. Every Memorial Day weekend he ran in the Spring Lake 5 mile race with his family from the mid 1990s until 2018. He ran nearly every day into his mid-70s, which included daily runs around Packanack Lake. He was thrilled to find out, just two months ago, that he was inducted into the St. Benedict’s Prep Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the 1958 Cross Country Team.

Bob particularly enjoyed the outdoors.  He loved working in his yard, and over the years, built a deck and a large shed. He always wanted to own a second home near the beach.  Bob and Gail fulfilled that dream in 2000 when they bought a home on Long Beach Island. He enjoyed vacationing and running in LBI during the summers.

Bob was an unpretentious person with no airs about him.  He was also very generous. He always looked to give to those close to him as well as strangers without looking for anything in return. He donated to many charities over the years. He would even donate money to families he heard about on the news. He would describe himself as fairly shy, yet he always enjoyed making people laugh with his jokes and remarks.  Bob was only at Sunrise a short time, but he made an impact on the staff. They remarked how polite and outgoing he was and they loved his sense of humor.

Surviving are his devoted daughters, Cathie and husband Vin Przybylinski of Wayne, Suzanne and husband Josh Shapiro of Wayne, four cherished grandchildren Brooke and Grace Przybylinski and Katie and Matthew Shapiro. Bob was predeceased by his dear wife Gail in 2013 and beloved brother Jim in 2015.

If you wish to make a donation, please consider Alzheimer’s Association , National Processing Center Alzheimer’s Association, Greater NJ Chapter PO Box 96011, Washington DC 20090.  http://www.alznj.org