Warner Fusselle
NEW YORK, NY-- Warner Fusselle, a native of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away Sunday evening June 10th, 2012, at the age of 68. A legendary figure in sports broadcasting, "The Fuse" as he was nicknamed, was highly respected by all he encountered and widely recognized by his charming Southern voice. He was heard by thousands through airwaves, television sets, and through stadium speakers. Fusselle was known personally and professionally as an ego-less and gracious Southern gentleman. He brought fans to the field by his personalized play-by-play action, overwhelming knowledge of the sport and players, and pure love of the game. He continued the traditions of his mentors and peers Red Barber, Mel Allen, and Ernie Harwell, while making his own mark.
He is particularly remembered for his groundbreaking contribution to sports media, through the production of "This Week in Baseball", where he found his break and credits Mel Allen. Fusselle's announcing career includes; his start in Minor League Baseball with the Class-A South Atlantic League Spartanburg, SC Phillies, the Class-AAA International League Richmond Braves, the voice of the Virginia Squires in the American Basketball Association, and many credits with Major League Baseball. Among the hundreds of voiceovers on national networks, he more recently was the voice of Seton Hall basketball for twelve years, and for St. John's baseball. He most recently enjoyed his last years as the voice of the Brooklyn Cyclones, where he traveled and worked tirelessly since 2001. When Fusselle, who was a star athlete in his younger days, was asked if he preferred basketball or baseball, he replied he loved both, but his heart was always with baseball.
Warner Fusselle remained a stalwart of tradition in his career and still wrote all records and programming by hand, even in this age of computers, as he was approaching his 35th opening day on the diamond this year.
Fusselle, a Korean War veteran, was successful in all his endeavors, even producing two baseball music albums, authoring "Baseball, A Laughing Matter", starring in the 1992 major film, "The Bad Lieutenant", and being a serious collector of sports memorabilia. He recently expressed his interest in teaching sports broadcasting at the collegiate level.
The son of the late Dr. Warner Earle Fusselle and Ruth Trotter Boone, Warner Fusselle, was born on April 7, 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky. He is survived by one sister, Alicia Ruth Fusselle of Spartanburg, SC; and nephews, Max Thomas Hyde Jr., also of Spartanburg, SC, and Warner Fusselle Hyde of Pittsboro, NC.
Memorial services celebrating the life of Warner Fusselle will be held in both New York and Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Spartanburg service will be at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday June 13, 2012 in the Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church on East Main Street. The family will receive friends immediately following in the Parlor.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, GA 30501 in support of the Warner Fusselle youth sports program.
An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd's North Church Street Chapel
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Think of Warner everyday while broadcasting for St John´s Baseball. He was such a pleasure to work with in the booth and I am deeply indebted to him for all he taught me during that time.
Bob Hirschfield
Work
June 6, 2021
To the Fusselle family,
I was deeply sadden to hear of his passing. I left working baseball in 2010. I was the Athletic Trainer for the Brooklyn Cyclones from 2002-2004. It was one of my best Baseball memories I will have. I was watching this week in base.He was a true friend to me. We had some long bus rides. Rest in Peace my good friend. I will never forget the baseball interview. I still have that tape. We had some great baseball conversations about the past baseball players.
Ruben Barrera
Friend
February 19, 2021
I worked with Warner when he was the radio announcer for the Virginia Squires of the old ABA during its final years of existence. We roomed together in 1974 for a year and I truly got to see up close how dedicated and professional he was and how he took his job very seriously. He loved being a broadcaster and was very good at it. I would run into him once in a while in New York years later and he was just the same Warner, at the time doing This Week in Baseball. It has been several years since we spoke and I was looking for him over the past few years and came across this notification of his death. I was very saddened to read this and even though it is five years later, I offer my sincere condolences to his family. He was a man who loved what he did and did it well... rest in peace my friend.
Henri Calitri
Friend
May 7, 2017
Prayer is one of the things that help us through such difficult times. My prayers and thoughts have been for Warner's family and friends. Was looking forward to seeing him at our class reunion. He was always there for us.
Patricia (Waters) Garrison
June 18, 2012
May God's grace and peace be with Warner's family during this difficult time.
Nancy (McNeal) Brown
June 16, 2012
My thoughts and prayers go out to Warner's loved ones. I, like others, was looking forward to seeing him at our GHS class reunion.
June 15, 2012
Alicia, bubba was out of town and emailed this to me but I am just now looking at my email. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. We had no idea that you had such a famous brother. He sounds like a delightful person and i know he will be greatly missed! God's peace dear friend.....
Wth love,
Bridget
June 15, 2012
You were a true friend to me during our days at GHS and during my problems later in life. As an old Yankee fan I will always cherish the friendship of the Cardinals' greatest fan. Rest in peace. James Dorsey ("Chubby")
James Dorsey
June 15, 2012
I pray for God's grace and comfort for Warner's family members during these difficult days and months to come.
Ben Pethel
June 15, 2012
It was such a shock to hear of Warner's passing. Everyone on the Reunion Committee was so looking forward to seeing him again after almost 50 years. He will be missed by us all.
Sandi (Rahn) Lee
June 14, 2012
I am so sorry for the loss of my old friend Warner. It seems he had a good life, but, of course, I wish it could have been longer. I was looking forward to seeing him at the 50th GHS Reunion. My sympathy goes to the family.
Judi Hooper Carter
June 14, 2012
The suddenness of his passing really struck me. My prayers for his family and loved ones for your loss (SSB nyc)
June 14, 2012
I remember Warner fondly as a classmate at GHS and will miss seeing him at our reunion. My sincere condolence to all his family.
Martha White Rollison
June 14, 2012
My sympathies to the family. I was looking forward to seeing him at the reunion.
Joyce Garrett Dooley
June 14, 2012
To Warner's family we send our condolences for your loss. We were so looking forward to seeing him at our reunion this fall and his presence will be sorely missed. He certainly followed his calling and loved what he was doing as the tributes from his fellow broadcasters reveal.
Sammy Smith
June 14, 2012
My condolences to the Family of The Great Warner Fusselle, one of the Greatest and Iconic voices of baseball. I met Warner in 2001 when I was part of the radio broadcast of the Staten Island Yankees. He provided myself, along with my booth mates with invaluable baseball broadcasting knowledge. From 2001-2005 I always looked forward to the Yankees playing the Cyclones, because it was another opportunity to pick Warner's brain. You will be missed my friend, Tom Quinn, Staten Island NY
Tom Quinn
June 13, 2012
Rae and I are saddened to hear of Warner's death. All of us were looking forward to connecting with him at our reunion in the fall.
It sounds as if he was a lucky man that spent his life doing what he truly loved.
Our condolences to all of those that loved him and will miss his presence.
Rae and Carol(Dean) Greene
June 13, 2012
My deepest condolences to Alicia and her family on the loss of her dear brother. He was truly a friend to me in a quick fashion working alongside him doing the St. John's baseball games this past season. A total professional who worked hard at his skill on a daily basis and was a credit to his profession. I find it difficult to even express how much I will miss him. God Bless. Bob Hirschfield, St John's Univ.
Bob Hirschfield
June 13, 2012
Very sorry for his passing. It seems, his was a life well lived! May he rest in peace. God's peace be upon those loved one he leaves for a time.
Bill Knight
June 12, 2012
All Seton Hall basketball fans who knew Warner and enjoyed his broadcasts were saddened by the news of his death. It was obvious that he loved what he was doing. May he rest in peace.
John Parvin
June 12, 2012
Dear Alicia,
Warner was a good friend and great person.I am glad he was able to do what he loved all his life. You and your family are in our prayers.
Johnny and Mary Lynn(McCarver) Coyle
June 12, 2012
At GHS I remember Warner as tall, blonde and very curly hair. He was always very nice. I envy him in doing something for a living that he he really loved. Not many can do that. I was looking foward to seeing him in Oct. at our reunion.
Louis Guthrie ( Beaufort, SC )
June 12, 2012
Dear Alicia,
My heart goes out to you and yours concerning your brother,s passing. As your wonderful father so reinforced during my childhood, "He is in a beautiful place that God has prepared for us." We will all see him again one day. I,ll never forget , as a small girl, you calling to invite me over to play one day. What a nice day we had! Not many had that invitation. I felt special. Your family has made an impressive mark in my life. I still have a card your father wrote me to assure me that my DAD went to heaven. I,ll never part with it. I also remember him picking me up and lifting me high to look down into the box one of the sanctuary chandeliers was in. I often think of Dr . Fusselle when I look up and enjoy them. I will pray for you during this time of grief . Love, Havalyn Shaw Bennett (Gainesville, Georgia)
Havalyn Bennett
June 12, 2012
All his classmates in the Gainesville High School class of 62 are saddened by Warner's passing. He will certainly be missed.
Scotty Gunter
June 12, 2012
We wish to offer our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the immediate family, all other relatives, many lifelong associates and worldwide friends and fans of WARNER FUSSELLE, yet another fine person who has departed the scene at far too young an age ...
He truly had one of the greatest speaking voices of all time, was both highly respected and appreciated by all those who knew him or met him over time ...
WARNER FUSSELLE shall be remembered ...
COLONEL77 / SEMPER FIDELIS
ALLEN ANTHONY
June 12, 2012
See you at the "Haromny" in the sky.
Young Nothing
June 12, 2012
Warner was a good friend of my brother's at Wake Forest. I always heard nice comments about him. He will certainly be missed by all who knew him.
Drina C Hedgpeth
June 12, 2012
I had the privilege of working with and knowing Warner during my time at Phoenix Communications. He called me "Young Dennis" and always had the time to talk baseball and sports memorabilia with me. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dennis Yuhasz
June 12, 2012
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