Joseph Chused, a civic leader, longtime attorney and for many years the oldest past president of Congregation Shaare Emeth, died last week (Thursday, July 20, 2006), of lymphoma at Barnes-Jewish Extended Care. Mr. Chused was 97 and resided in University City.

Friends, professional colleagues, fellow members of Shaare Emeth and fellow alumni of his beloved Washington University were uniformly amazed at Joseph Chused’s vigor, good humor and health which empowered him to continue his law practice until three months before his death, to remain active in temple life and even to take part in an aerobics exercise class, in which he was the only male participant. He was frequently praised for his kindly, courtly manner, his dapper choice in clothes and his warm sense of humor which often took even his closest friends by surprise.

Mr. Chused set his own schedule at the law firm he co-founded with Max Kramer as Kramer & Chused more than 70 years ago. The firm is now known as Bini, Steib, Reid and Kohn.

In recent years, Mr. Chused was featured in local newspapers and TV shows as an example of someone who continued an active work and recreation schedule into his 90s. In addition to attending the aerobics class and riding a stationary bike in his home for 30 minutes almost daily, he also played golf until he was 90.

Mr. Chused’s athletic prowess began when he was a young man. The East St. Louis native grew up enjoying such varied sports as boxing, tennis and handball, while growing up in the City of St. Louis.

Mr. Chused graduated from the Washington University School of Law and was one of the school’s oldest living alumni. He was also a devoted member of the Missouri Pi Chapter of Pi Lambda Phi fraterntiy at Washington University, which had been founded as a chapter of Phi Beta Delta, with which it later merged. Mr. Chused was an active member of the chapter’s Alumni Association for many years, and mentored generations of his fraternity brothers on campus. Chancellor Mark Wrighton of Washington University attended Mr. Chused’s funeral last week at Shaare Emeth.

Mr. Chused and his late wife, Marie Irene Steinberg, helped establish a scholarship at the law school. The couple also supported the Crown Center apartments for older adults and the Israel Experience Fund at Congregation Shaare Emeth. The fund helps members of the confirmation class travel to Israel.

Mr. Chused was a past president of Congregation Shaare Emeth, the local chapter of B’nai B’rith and the New Mount Sinai Cemetery Association. He was also a past president and founding member of the Forest Hills Country Club.

His wife of 64 years died in 2002.

Funeral services for Mr. Chused were held last week at Congregation Shaare Emeth, where Rabbi Jim Bennett and Rabbi Emeritus Jeffrey B. Stiffman officiated. In his eulogy, Rabbi Stiffman warmly recalled how Joe Chused had been “my first president when I first began at Shaare Emth in l965 as a young assistant rabbi. He did so much good for so many. As my very first temple president, he guided me gently, but firmly, when I first came fresh out of rabbinical school.

“I told him that he was the gold standard by which I have judged all other presidents, and that was the truth,” Rabbi Stiffman said.

Several past presidents of the congregation attended Mr. Chused’s funeral services, including his colleagues on the board of the Mount Sinai Cemetery Association and fellow alumni of Washington University.

Rabbi Stiffman also recalled, “when I came back as senior rabbi, Joe was always there, supportive in the difficult times, honest with me when that was needed, always in such a gentle and courtly manner, and so proud of our growth and successes. He was also probably one of the best-dressed presidents of all time! He served so many organizations as president, including our Men’s Club, his fraternity, B’nai B’rith, Forest Hills Country Club and even his condominimum…But he was not all business. He and Marie had good friends, regular games of cards and just shmooze. They loved to travel and see the world, and he was some traveler. He loved vacations with the kids when they were young, and especially the family reunions.”

Speaking on behalf of the Chused family, Tom Chused said, “I welcome you on behalf of my entire family. We are here to celebrate and to remember Joe Chused’s truly remarkable life…Our Dad showered love on all of us, family and friends alike…Thank you, Dad, for being such a marvelous father and for being the true Patriarch of our family.”

Rabbi Bennett said that he regretted not having had the privilege of knowing Joseph and Marie Chused longer during his own rabbinic tenure at Shaare Emeth, “but like all who knew them, I deeply appreciated their love, their warmth and their support.”

Following the funeral service, entombment was in the New Mount Sinai Mausoleum.

Among the survivors are two sons, Dr. Thomas Chused and Richard Chused, both of Washington; and four grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chused Israel Experience Fund at Congregation Shaare Emeth, ll645 Ladue Road, St. Louis, Mo. 63l4l.