David Shutan, 97

David Shutan, a long-time businessman in the New Haven, Conn. area who was also active in the local Jewish community, died on September 21, 2023, in Boca Raton, Fla., at the age of 97.

Born in New Haven, Conn. to Hymie and Anna Shutan, he was the founder and CEO of Foremost Foods Co., Inc. in West Haven, Conn., which was a member of the National Association of Meat Purveyors. He took an early retirement at age 60, selling the business to two of his most trusted employees who ran it until 2008.

His dream was to attend college on the G.I. Bill and become a medical doctor, but a perforated eardrum kept him from serving in World War II, and instead he entered his father's business, which was a small meat market in downtown New Haven. Years later he opened his own meat packing plant and would often joke that he became an M.D. after all: as in meat dealer.

Apart from his sense of humor and a penchant for telling jokes, he was known for kindness and compassion. Interests and hobbies included painting, sculpting, tennis, bike riding and singing with a barbershop group at the Valencia Isles community in Boynton Beach, Fla. called the Hurricane Harmonizers. On his 90th birthday, he rode 90 miles on his bicycle. He also was a Freemason, wrote countless letters to the editor that were published in his hometown newspapers, The New Haven Register and the Sun Sentinel.

Shutan is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Irma, 94, of Boynton Beach, Florida; three children, Suzan Shutan and her spouse Mario Almedia of Hamden, Connecticut, Caron Shutan and her spouse Jay Yospe of Boca Raton, Florida, and Bruce Shutan and his spouse Gina Shutan of Portland, Oregon; as well as six grandchildren, Aaron Ziff and his spouse Shana Ziff of Cleveland, Ohio, Chava Ziff and her spouse Zach Halfon of Denver, Colorado, Ami Ziff and his spouse Becky Ziff of Scarsdale, New York, Elan Ziff and his spouse Ashley Ziff of Charlotte, North Carolina, Liam and Scarlet Shutan of Portland, Oregon; four step-grandchildren, Ryan Yospe and his spouse Andrea Yospe of Boynton Beach, Florida, Kimberly and Jared Fischer of Boca Raton, Florida; Sienna Bruinsma of Providence, Rhode Island, and Racquel Wright of Portland, Oregon; 10 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at Rubin Memorial Chapel in Boynton Beach, Fla. at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 27 followed by interment at 10:45 a.m. at Eternal Light Memorial Gardens, Boynton Beach, FL.

Those of you wishing to honor David's memory with a memorial contribution, please consider the following charity: "Stand With Us" https://www.standwithus.com

Anyone unable to attend the service but would like to view the service live online please copy and paste or type the link below into your browser:

https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/mr-david-shutan