Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94

Jerggy13 · 11-27-2013, 01:17 PM

Louis J. Fusz Sr., the founder of one of the largest automotive networks in the United States and the last of his generation, died Tuesday (Nov. 26, 2013) in Palm Beach, Fla., after a heart attack. He had celebrated his 94th birthday on Sunday.
Mr. Fusz, who split his time between Creve Coeur and Palm Beach to be with children, was family patriarch and chairman of the board of Lou Fusz Automotive Network.

From his first Pontiac dealership in Clayton in the early 1950s, Mr. Fusz with his family built a company with 13 car dealerships today and about 900 employees. Mr. Fusz will be remembered, though, not only for his business acumen. He’ll be remembered also for his philanthropy and for his love of family and devotion to the Catholic Church.

He leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Martha, 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. A son preceded him in death.

Mr. Fusz was born in 1919, the fifth and youngest child of Eugene A. Fusz and Eliza Ring Fusz. He was a descendant of Louis F. Fusz and Josephine Desloge, whose families settled in St. Louis in 1823, and of Alexander McNair, the first governor of Missouri.

Mr. Fusz graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1937 and from Georgetown University in 1941. With an impending war, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serving from 1941 through 1945. While in the service in the South, he met his future wife, Martha Downard, when her brother brought him home to dinner. They married in Louisville, Ky., in 1943.

His mother was his father’s “inspiration and constant adviser,” said Louis J. Fusz Jr., the oldest son and the president and CEO of Louis Fusz Automotive Network for many years.

“They had celebrated their 70th anniversary in June, and children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to St. Louis from all over,” Lou Fusz Jr. recalls. “There were probably 100 of us.”

Over the years, the Lou Fusz chain of dealerships won numerous awards. About five years ago, Mr. Fusz Sr. was elected by Junior Achievement into the St. Louis Business Hall of Fame.

Begun as the Lou Fusz Motor Co., the first Pontiac dealership in the early 1950s was by the old Branding Iron restaurant in Clayton. From there, the dealership moved to the site of what’s now the Galleria and then to Old Olive Street Road and Lindbergh Boulevard. In 1969, the company expanded from Pontiacs into many of lines of cars. Many of the children and grandchildren have become part of the business.

“He was loved by his employees,” Louis Fusz Jr., of Ladue, said.

The Catholic Church remained an important part of Mr. Fusz’s life. “Even when he was old and couldn’t drive, he had a caregiver drive him to church every morning,” his son said. Mr. Fusz and the company gave donations to many Catholic and other charities., including St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

“He was very generous with his personal time and coached grade school basketball for 25 years at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic School” in Webster Groves, Louis Fusz Jr. said.

Visitation will be from 3 until 7 p.m. Friday at Kriegshauser Mortuary West Chapel, 9450 Olive Boulevard in Olivette. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of The Pillar Catholic Church, 401 South Lindbergh Boulevard.

Survivors, in addition to his wife and son Louis, are: Reine Fusz Bitting, Eugene A. Fusz, Eliza Fusz Whittemore, and Josephine Fusz Rugart, all of Palm Beach; and Anne Fusz Grace, of Rockland, Maine and Palm Beach; Luci Fusz Tonon of Charlotte, N.C.; Martha Fusz Ramey of Town and Country; Philip Fusz of Ladue; and Daniel Fusz of St. Louis.

Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94 : News

Lou, I wish you and your family all my condolences.

Trips · 11-27-2013, 01:31 PM

Lou WE love man, Our sincere condolences to you and your family.

DEpointfive0 · 11-27-2013, 01:34 PM

Sorry for your loss Lou.
If you need anything, we're here for you

6MT · 11-27-2013, 02:02 PM

r.i.p.

semtex · 11-27-2013, 02:26 PM

Really sorry for your loss, Lou.

sexZness · 11-27-2013, 02:29 PM

Wow... I'm so sorry to learn about your great loss, Lou. My condolences go out to you and your family.

XiP · 11-27-2013, 02:37 PM

Rip

mults · 11-27-2013, 02:44 PM

Lou,

Sorry for your loss and it sounds like you share a lot of your Father's traits. May he rest in peace and know that he is still with all of us in spirit.

Our condolences to you and the entire Fusz Family (which includes all of us).

Mt Tam I am · 11-27-2013, 07:11 PM

Always sad to hear even at 94.

semtex · 11-27-2013, 07:20 PM

Just to clarify, it is Lou's grandfather who passed away, not his father.

blackcherry20 · 11-27-2013, 07:34 PM

Thoughts and prayers your way Lou. <\3

11-27-2013, 01:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jerggy13 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 517 Drives: with 6 TB's Rep Power: 375	Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94 Louis J. Fusz Sr., the founder of one of the largest automotive networks in the United States and the last of his generation, died Tuesday (Nov. 26, 2013) in Palm Beach, Fla., after a heart attack. He had celebrated his 94th birthday on Sunday. Mr. Fusz, who split his time between Creve Coeur and Palm Beach to be with children, was family patriarch and chairman of the board of Lou Fusz Automotive Network. From his first Pontiac dealership in Clayton in the early 1950s, Mr. Fusz with his family built a company with 13 car dealerships today and about 900 employees. Mr. Fusz will be remembered, though, not only for his business acumen. He’ll be remembered also for his philanthropy and for his love of family and devotion to the Catholic Church. He leaves behind his wife of 70 years, Martha, 10 children, 35 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. A son preceded him in death. Mr. Fusz was born in 1919, the fifth and youngest child of Eugene A. Fusz and Eliza Ring Fusz. He was a descendant of Louis F. Fusz and Josephine Desloge, whose families settled in St. Louis in 1823, and of Alexander McNair, the first governor of Missouri. Mr. Fusz graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1937 and from Georgetown University in 1941. With an impending war, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard, serving from 1941 through 1945. While in the service in the South, he met his future wife, Martha Downard, when her brother brought him home to dinner. They married in Louisville, Ky., in 1943. His mother was his father’s “inspiration and constant adviser,” said Louis J. Fusz Jr., the oldest son and the president and CEO of Louis Fusz Automotive Network for many years. “They had celebrated their 70th anniversary in June, and children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to St. Louis from all over,” Lou Fusz Jr. recalls. “There were probably 100 of us.” Over the years, the Lou Fusz chain of dealerships won numerous awards. About five years ago, Mr. Fusz Sr. was elected by Junior Achievement into the St. Louis Business Hall of Fame. Begun as the Lou Fusz Motor Co., the first Pontiac dealership in the early 1950s was by the old Branding Iron restaurant in Clayton. From there, the dealership moved to the site of what’s now the Galleria and then to Old Olive Street Road and Lindbergh Boulevard. In 1969, the company expanded from Pontiacs into many of lines of cars. Many of the children and grandchildren have become part of the business. “He was loved by his employees,” Louis Fusz Jr., of Ladue, said. The Catholic Church remained an important part of Mr. Fusz’s life. “Even when he was old and couldn’t drive, he had a caregiver drive him to church every morning,” his son said. Mr. Fusz and the company gave donations to many Catholic and other charities., including St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “He was very generous with his personal time and coached grade school basketball for 25 years at Our Holy Redeemer Catholic School” in Webster Groves, Louis Fusz Jr. said. Visitation will be from 3 until 7 p.m. Friday at Kriegshauser Mortuary West Chapel, 9450 Olive Boulevard in Olivette. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of The Pillar Catholic Church, 401 South Lindbergh Boulevard. Survivors, in addition to his wife and son Louis, are: Reine Fusz Bitting, Eugene A. Fusz, Eliza Fusz Whittemore, and Josephine Fusz Rugart, all of Palm Beach; and Anne Fusz Grace, of Rockland, Maine and Palm Beach; Luci Fusz Tonon of Charlotte, N.C.; Martha Fusz Ramey of Town and Country; Philip Fusz of Ladue; and Daniel Fusz of St. Louis. Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94 : News Lou, I wish you and your family all my condolences. __________________ Changes come. Keep your dignity. Take the high road. Take it like a man. Momma Sed Like the rain. Like a kidney stone. Its just a broken heart, son. This pain will pass away.

11-27-2013, 01:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,728 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Lou WE love man, Our sincere condolences to you and your family. __________________

11-27-2013, 01:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	Sorry for your loss Lou. If you need anything, we're here for you __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

11-27-2013, 02:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
6MT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: ITU Zone 2 Posts: 22,459 Drives: Reliant Robin Rep Power: 1789	r.i.p. __________________ Andrew 2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold 2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

11-27-2013, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 53 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Really sorry for your loss, Lou. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

11-27-2013, 02:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
sexZness A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 18,504 Drives: like it's stolen Rep Power: 107	Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94 Wow... I'm so sorry to learn about your great loss, Lou. My condolences go out to you and your family. __________________ Clarification #1: I'm not a bro... [FONT="Garamond"]♥ Baby Zilla ♥ ~ Instagram: @SxZnS Forgestar \| FAST INTENTIONS \| Berk \| Injen \| H&R \| SPC \| Seibon \|

11-27-2013, 02:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
XiP A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: no clipping Posts: 11,096 Drives: ↑ ↓ Rep Power: 533	Rip __________________ I <3 Frost!!!

11-27-2013, 02:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
mults A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Age: 69 Posts: 1,830 Drives: 2010 (40th) #706 Rep Power: 16885	Lou, Sorry for your loss and it sounds like you share a lot of your Father's traits. May he rest in peace and know that he is still with all of us in spirit. Our condolences to you and the entire Fusz Family (which includes all of us). DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ mults 40th Anniversary 'Z', 312.06HP/260.58TQ (Dynosty EcuTek Tune) Build Date/Number: 1/27/2010 #706 Berk HFC + CBE, R2C CAI, Clear Bra, Cleveland Z Club

11-27-2013, 07:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3842	Always sad to hear even at 94. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

11-27-2013, 07:20 PM	#10 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 53 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Just to clarify, it is Lou's grandfather who passed away, not his father. sexZness likes this. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

11-27-2013, 07:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
blackcherry20 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 22,749 Drives: ‘17 badazz Z51 Rep Power: 237103	Thoughts and prayers your way Lou. <\3 __________________ Grand Sport Corvette Arctic White

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