SOMERVILLE — Elliot Shteir died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2000, at Somerset Medical Center, Somerville. He was 79.
Born in New York City, he spent many years in Metuchen and then in Neshanic, where his family owned and operated the village general store on Amwell Road.
Mr. Shteir served on Somerville’s Downtown Management Corporation and on the Planning Board. Dr. Shteir was a Somerset County Democratic District committeeman at the time of his death.
He was a member of the Somerville High School Debating Team who won the New Jersey Interscholastic Debating Championship in Princeton.
A graduate of Somerville High School, Dr. Shteir won the Governor’s Scholarship to Rutgers College, from which he graduated in 1941. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa while at Rutgers and was a member of the debating team.
Dr. Shteir continued his studies, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Dental School in 1945. Following serving in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Shteir opened and maintained his dental practice in Somerville until the age of 65. He was a member of the American Dental Association and the Central Jersey Periodontal Group.
He returned to Rutgers University School of Law in 1986 and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1989. He was admitted to practice in 1989 and then formed a partnership with his younger son until the time of his death. He also served as a law clerk at Monte & Marriot in Sea Girt.
He was a champion on the original TV game show "Jeopardy" in 1969. Setting a new record for winnings, he was invited back to for the Tournament of Champions, and on the 2000 airing of the show, donated his winnings on this show to the Sherman Tally Fund in Somerville.
On the new "Jeopardy" show Alex Trebeck specially announced him as the oldest player in "Jeopardy" history.
Surviving are his wife, Annette Shteir; two daughters, Nancy Keeran of Santa Fe, N.M., and Vicki Shteir-Dunn of Arlington, Va.; two sons, Jon of Somerville and Scott of Hingham, Mass.; a sister, Gloria Bensky; and four grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Speer-Van Arsdale Funeral Home in Somerville.

