Dr. ROBERT JOHN JUSTER

DR. ROBERT JOHN JUSTER 1927 - 2012 Robert John Juster, Ph.D, age 85 of Auburn, was born in London, England on August 17, 1927 and went to be with the Lord from his home on October 24, 2012. He was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church having served on the Vestry and was a lay-reader for many years. Dr. Juster was the highly-respected retired City Planner for the City of Auburn, having served in that role from 1990 to 1996, and again from 2002 until 2005. He also served as a member of the Auburn Planning Commission and the Lee County Planning Commission. Bob was a native of London, England, where he lived during the bombing of that city during World War II. He served in the British Royal Army in Germany from 1946 to 1948. He immigrated to the United States in 1954, and became an American citizen in 1959. Prior to leaving England, Bob earned an undergraduate degree in architecture and graduate degree in regional planning. While in England, Dr. Juster served in professional planning positions both in Essex and in London. He continued his education in the United States earning a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University, a Master of Business Administration from Samford University, a Master of Arts from Vanderbilt University, and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. While at Harvard, Dr. Juster was awarded the prestigious Littauer Fellowship. Bob was honored both nationally and in Alabama as a leading expert in city planning based on his teaching, writing, and practice. He was a Life Member of the American Planning Association, and one of the first 44 planners chosen nationally to be a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Dr. Juster was also an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Town Planning Institute for the City of London, England. Dr. Juster's professional experience included positions as consultant with two prominent planning firms, Director of Planning for the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Planning Commission, and Planning Director for the City of Mobile. He was also the first director of the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission, and he served as the Director of Research for the Center for Urban Affairs at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). While serving at UAB, Dr. Juster taught in the Department of Urban Affairs. He also served as Professor of Urban and Regional Planning and Professor of Political Science at the University of Mississippi from 1979 to 1986. From 1990 through 2002, Bob was a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in Community Planning at Auburn University. Throughout Bob's career, he aligned the practice of city planning with the academic study of the field. He published numerous articles in professional and academic books and journals. Among his other publications, Dr. Juster authored Municipal Planning in Alabama: A Manual for Members of Planning Commissions and Boards of Adjustments. He was the principal instructor in the certification programs for local planning officials offered by the Alabama Planning Institute from 1987 until his retirement. In this role, he taught most of the city planners and planning commission members who served in Alabama cities and counties over a 25-year period. In addition to his teaching and practice in city planning, Bob was also an arbitrator and mediator. He was certified by the National Panel of Consumer Arbitrators of the Better Business Bureau and for many years volunteered as a mediator in the Lee County Judicial Volunteer Program, a program established to mediate cases under litigation in the district and circuit courts. Bob was recognized as Mediator of the Year by the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. While those who worked with him or were taught by him had admiration and respect for him, they did not know that this humble man also was an accomplished poet, pianist, and artist. He composed orchestral music, and created crossword puzzles for a newspaper in London. Dr. Juster was exceptionally well-read in numerous areas, and his quick wit was well-known to his friends, his students, and his co-workers. Bob's lifetime of accomplishments and interests were vast but none were as great as his genuine interest and love for his family. Whether discussing music or medicine, fishing or hunting, sports or politics, traveling or books, cooking or technology, Bob showed a genuine interest in each family member's life. He did not just make conversation. In between visits with a family member, he would gather additional information on one's hobby or life activities in order to personally share in each of our lives. His gracious welcome of children, grandchildren, friends of grandchildren and dogs into his home and life demonstrated Bob's selfless nature and kind heart. As our own lives go on, each of us will remember our times with Bob with a warm heart and as we recall his soft chuckle, we will smile in our heart forever more. A memorial service will be held on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn, with the Reverends John Fritchner and Thomas Joiner officiating. Private interment will be held prior to the service. Bob Juster leaves behind his loving and devoted wife, Karen Ann Juster; his children, Robert C. Juster, Ann C. (Landon) Jenson, Greg (Lisa) Kiteley and Kathy (Paul) Fox; and his grandchildren, Brooke Sprowes, Mathew Jenson, Caroline Kiteley, Trent Kiteley, Allison Kiteley, Clay Kiteley, Langdon King, Caleb King, Melanie Fox and Garrett Fox. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Auburn Public Library, 749 East Thach Avenue, Auburn, Alabama, 36830 or to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100-A Church Drive, Auburn, Alabama, 36830. Fredericks Funeral Home is directing. www.fredericksfh.com Since 1900