June 29, 2003
Brother George N. Schuster, S.M., founder of Catholic Authors Press, died on July 26, 2003, in San Antonio. He was 92 and in the 76th year of his religious profession in the Society of Mary (Marianists).
Schuster was born in Chicago on Sept. 10, 1910, to George and Susan Kayser Schuster. The Schuster family moved to Dyersville, Iowa, where he and his brother, Louis Schuster, S.M. (former faculty member at St. Mary’s University, who died in April of 1989) became acquainted with the Marianists. Schuster entered religious life in 1924, professed vows on Aug. 15, 1927, and began his teaching career in St.Louis. In 1929 he was assigned toSt. Mary’s Academy (now Central Catholic High School) in San Antonio. He obtained a B.A. degree from St. Mary’s University in 1932, then returned to St. Louis. After a few months he was assigned to St. Michael’s High School in Chicago and attended Loyola University to obtain his master’s degree in 1935.
He returned to St.Louis for the rest of his professional career. As a teacher of English and journalism, Brother Schuster began his life long work of establishing the Catholic Authors Press. The Press was a response to papal pleas for the Church and schools to build up good Catholic literature. He and his brother, Brother Louis Schuster (who was an artist) began spreading the word of “Living Catholic Authors”, publishing booklets containing selections of recognized Catholic authors, poetry, biographies, history or fiction. Eventually Crown Editions, a series, was developed for students. The series includes works by G.K. Chesterton and Gertrude von Le Fort. An extensive collection of books was available for those seeking items that were scarce or out of print.
Brother Schuster discontinued the enterprise of Catholic Authors in 1989 because of poor health and retired to the Marianist Residence at St. Mary’s University.
Services were held in the Marianist Residence Chapel: Rosary at 7 p.m. Monday July 28, and Funeral Mass at 4 p.m. Tuesday July 29, followed by interment in the Marianist Cemetery on the campus of St. Mary’s.