Car dealer Lou Fusz Sr. dies at 94

[Jerggy13]

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.