Stuart Bernard Paster, MD, FACR

Stuart Bernard Paster MD FACR lived a joyful, accomplished, and connected life. He was cherished as a devoted husband, loving father, loyal friend, and gifted and compassionate radiologist. He was always ready to meet with his breast imaging patients and direct them to treatment options. He lived for many years with the daily stress of making correct breast cancer diagnoses, a matter of life and death for some.

Stuart was a proud, yet not overly observant member of the Albuquerque Jewish community, although he delighted in singing Hebrew prayers during the High Holidays and conducting large Passover seders at the Paster home. He often showcased his unique blend of Jewish humor with a gentle touch and his natural humility. He found peace and fulfillment in his communion with nature: working the earth in his garden, fly-fishing alone in the Pecos and Jemez, or skiing the local mountains. As an avid collector of American Indian pottery, he relished the hunt at Indian Market for the next pot and the opportunity to exchange with the artist. He found time to help his wife Janice with her political campaigns, putting up large campaign signs on key corners around the district, and he supported her career in elected office, even with its inconveniences.

Stuart's large and diverse vegetable garden on Dietz Loop was his pride and joy and he spent many happy hours there. He nurtured tomatoes from seed for Janice, although he did not eat them, and always got them into the ground early. He was passionate about his large corn patch. In the fall he and the children picked apples from the tree and the family made pies and apple crisp together. After the move to Eakes Road he expanded his interest to flowers, repairing sprinkler heads, and irrigating from the ditch. He could often be found outside with a hose in hand watering to bring up poppies and other wildflowers whose seeds he had spread around by hand.

Stuart loved fishing in the Jemez and especially at Brush Ranch in the Pecos where owners Scott and Kay Rice welcomed him. He was an avid skier, often singing Irving Berlin's lyrics "heaven, I'm in heaven" as he traversed the slopes in the light New Mexico powder and abundant sunshine. He enjoyed playing tennis (which became a family sport) until his later years, when he switched to golf. During Covid, even as his memory loss was advancing, he and Janice golfed together twice a week at the Albuquerque Country Club.

Stuart had the Paster music gene and was a lifelong music aficionado, from European classics to the Great American Songbook to the Kingston Trio and the Beatles. He found comfort in listening to Classical masterpieces as he faced the challenges of memory loss in his final years. In spite of his multitude of gifts and abilities, Stuart was an introvert. He rarely wanted to be the center of attention; instead he was content to be woven into life's rich tapestry, instinctively finding a balance between hard work one moment, and going with the flow the next, always engaging his soft humor along the way.

Stuart was born in Albany on December 3, 1940 and died quietly on Sunday, October 4, 2026 after a long journey through the jungle of dementia. He is survived by the large Paster clan, including son Bennett, his wife Eleanor Taylor and son Eliot; daughter Elisa; brother Alan and his wife Lois Bienstock; sister Phyllis; and many more.

Like his older brother Alan, Stuart attended Tufts University, earning a BA in political science. He attended Medical School at Upstate University of New York rather than attend Tufts after three undergraduate years. In Syracuse he spent Friday night Shabbat dinners at the home of his favorite uncle Abe Altman and Aunt Anita on Lake Cazenovia. He often invited medical school friends to join for the weekly family ritual.

In 1996 Stuart met his soon-to-be wife on a blind date during his internship at Barnes Hospital, Washington University. They married and moved to his residency in radiology at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein in the Bronx with Harold Jacobson MD and radiotherapist Charles Botstein MD. Stuart and Janice moved with infant son Bennett to Scott Air Force Base during the Viet Nam war. Two years later, it was on to Boston for one year, including new-born daughter Elisa, for Stuart's fellowship in cardiovascular radiology with Herb Abrams MD at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

In 1973 Stuart accepted a faculty position in cardio-vascular radiology in Albuquerque at BCMC, UNMH and then eventually moved on to the fledgling private practice at XRay Associates. It was at UNM that he first met and trained Mike Linver MD, one of his residents, who later became his breast imaging mentor and partner at XRay Associates. With Mike's vision and Stuart's determination they initiated annual screen mammograms in New Mexico, leading to a sea change in breast cancer diagnosis. They spent so much time together that it seemed they could read each other's minds without speaking.

After his retirement in 2014, Janice planned frequent travel for them to various continents and Stuart would just pack his bags and go happily along. They traveled often with friends April and Hap Hamel and visited them at least five times in Martha's Vineyard. In the end, as his illness progressed, Stuart was happiest at home enjoying his wife, his caregivers, walks in the neighborhood, his music, and visits from his children.

The family wishes to extend their profound thanks and gratitude to the staff at The Retreat and to special private caregivers, the mother and daughter team of Sandra and Michelle, who selflessly showered love and attention on Stuart as his decline slowly progressed. Janice also thanks devoted out-of-town friends (you know who you are) who called her frequently and provided her with support during his last years.

A short service to bury his cremains will take place Sunday, October 11 at noon at the Congregation Cemetery, Fairview Memorial Park . There will be a Memorial/Shiva service that afternoon at 5 pm at Congregation Albert. A celebration of Stuart's full life with reminiscences by family and close friends will be held in mid-April of 2027. Donations in his memory may be made to Congregation Albert, the New Mexico Philharmonic or a charity of your choice.