Funny, kind-hearted, mechanically inclined, giving, family-oriented.
Justin grew up the youngest of four siblings in a tight-knit family. From a young age, he was known for his intelligence, warm heart, a silly streak that made those around him smile, and a kindness that made people feel loved.
As a child, Justin loved football. He shared a special bond with his family; his brother, Jason, and particularly with his mother, Elizabeth, and older sister, Trina. His sister, Jennifer, has a fond memory of a road trip they took together to their grandmother’s house in Maine—singing and dancing in the car, enjoying each other’s company without a care in the world.
Mechanically inclined, Justin liked working with his hands and found joy in working on Volkswagens, and he had a true knack for cooking. Before addiction took hold of his life, he was on a path to a promising career in healthcare, working as a surgical technician and studying at Erwin Technical Center with dreams of becoming a nurse.
Justin lived with substance use disorder for 17 years. The disease changed him, as it so often does, and it created distance between the life he had envisioned and the reality he faced. His family watched him relapse time and again. Despite the struggles, Justin never lost his deep love for his family.
Justin shared a special bond with his niece Taylor and nephews Joshua, and Nicholas. He was not married and had no children of his own, but his role as an uncle meant a lot to him.
Jennifer says she lost her brother long before he physically left this world and wonders what he would have accomplished in his future. Would he have gotten married? Had children? Reached his career goals?
His passing has changed the way Jennifer sees addiction. She now understands it as a disease—not a flaw or failing. She said, “I can never understand their struggles, but I no longer judge them for it.” “Justin was so much more than his disease,” she says. “I miss his beautiful smile and his contagious laugh the most.”
Justin’s sister, Jennifer Schuster, provided the information for this narrative.
August 22, 1985-December 2, 2022-Age 37
Portrait Artist: Jeremy Hebbel
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
