Dr. Edwin A. Oster M.D.

A Legacy of Dedication, Compassion, and Service

Edwin Arthur Oster grew up in a coal-mining town in North Dakota during the Great Depression. A bright child with big dreams, he once confided to a teacher that he wanted to become a doctor. The teacher laughed and told him to forget it — that he’d never be anything more than a coal miner like the other boys. That moment sparked a determination in young Edwin that would never fade.

Each day he worked after school at a local store to help support his family; at night he studied by the light of an oil lamp. But as the Depression deepened, his dreams were put on hold. He left school to work full-time so his family could survive.

Eventually, Edwin completed high school, but his plans were again interrupted by World War II. Shortly after the United States entered the war, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 1944, after returning home, he married Katherine on September 9, 1944, and resumed his education. He attended the University of North Dakota for pre-med, completing the program in three years, then earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois.

During medical school, Dr. Oster gained invaluable experience working in Chicago’s South Side hospitals — busy places filled with the kind of street violence depicted in The Untouchables. After graduating, he was accepted for internships at several hospitals, but chose San Joaquin County Hospital in French Camp, California, drawn by the promise of the West.

Building a Practice and a Community

In 1950, Dr. Oster and his young family moved to California, where he completed his internship and opened a practice in the growing Cambrian Park area of San Jose. The orchards were giving way to new homes and young families — the perfect setting for a devoted family doctor.

Dr. Oster quickly became known for his skill, compassion, and generosity. He cared deeply for his patients, often making house calls and accepting boxes of fruit or vegetables as payment from those who couldn’t afford his services. Long days at the office and nights on call at O’Connor Hospital became routine.

One story that has been passed down through the years tells of a young boy gravely injured in an accident. The child had fallen onto a pair of garden shears that pierced his abdomen. Without waiting for an ambulance, Dr. Oster rushed him to the hospital himself — police even tried to stop his speeding car — and performed emergency surgery that saved the boy’s life.

Dr. Oster’s advice was often years ahead of its time. In the mid-1950s, he was already urging his patients to stop smoking and live healthier lives.

A Lasting Impact

Despite the long hours, Dr. Oster’s warmth and dedication never wavered. Patients and families remembered him not just as their doctor but as a trusted friend. Many shared personal stories with his children in the years after his passing, always returning to the same truth — he made a lasting, positive difference in their lives.

On December 21, 1957, just days before Christmas, Dr. Oster passed away in his sleep from heart failure. The community mourned deeply. There was no Christmas for his family that year — but his legacy of service and compassion continued to shine. Less than two years later, a new neighborhood school was built to serve the growing community. It was named Oster Elementary School, in honor of the beloved physician whose life embodied caring and dedication.

A Legacy Remembered

“Although I never knew Dr. Oster because I was an infant when he died, I certainly knew what he did, and who he was: a kind, generous, caring man who gave to the community far more than he received.
And I think Dr. Oster would be proud and honored by the great work being done here at Oster School — helping kids and making a positive difference in their lives.
It is entirely consistent with the character of his work.”

— Steve Oster, 2018 (Dr. Oster’s youngest son)