Rustom Edulji Mody, M.D., 03 Jan 1931 of Hillside, a physician in rheumatology and internal medicine in practice in Elizabeth for 35 years, died on Sept. 11, 2008. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008, at 10 a.m. in the Krowicki McCracken Funeral Home, 2124 E. St. George Ave., Linden, at the Elizabeth city line. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home. Cremation is private. Born in India in 1931, Dr. Mody graduated from the University of Bombay and MGM Medical College of Agra University, both in India. He came to the United States and settled in New Jersey in 1956, where he completed his internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Elizabeth and a residency in pulmonary disease at New Yorks Bellevue/Cornell Medical Center. After serving as chief resident in internal medicine at St. Michaels Hospital, Newark, he completed a fellowship in rheumatology and served as an instructor in medicine at the New Jersey College of Medicine (New Jersey Medical School of UMDNJ). While practicing in Elizabeth, Dr. Mody served as chairman of the Department of Medicine and the chief of rheumatology at Alexian Brothers Hospital as well as medical director at Brother Bonaventure Extended Care. Dr. Mody was a member of several professional societies, including the American Medical Association, American Rheumatism Association, American Geriatrics Society, New Jersey Rheumatism Association, New York Rheumatism Association, Medical Society of New Jersey and Union County Medical Society, and was a fellow of the American College Rheumatology. He also presented on rheumatology at numerous medical conferences and public forums throughout his career. During his internship at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Dr. Mody met Mary M. Eilbacher, a nurse in the intensive care unit, whom he later married. They shared their lives for 48 years. Dr. Mody will be remembered and loved by his family and friends and all who had the pleasure and honor of knowing him. His children remember him as a loving father and admire and respect him for his integrity, virtue and commitment to serving others. They always will remember the values he taught and the example he set. He touched many lives, was devoted to his patients, and lived up to the highest possible standards in the practice of medicine. He lived an exemplary life. Predeceased by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Edulji S. Mody, and a brother, Brigadier General Shapur E. Mody, he is survived by his wife, the former Mary M. Eilbacher; three children, Nina M. and Frank J. Stukey, Rustom J. and Diane E. Mody, and Gavin E. Mody, and a grandson, Rustom Z. Mody. He is also survived by a sister, Anjali Shah; nieces, Fareeda Setna and Zenobia Mistri; nephews, Dr. Jay Shah, Dr. Neil Shah and Mark Shah; grandnieces, Skaila Bhada and Susan Setna Mistri, and grandnephews, Yohann Setna and Neville Mistri.
Published in the Star-Ledger from 9/17/2008 - 9/18/2008