James R. Fuhse

James R. "Jim" Fuhse, longtime New Jersey resident, sports publicity groundbreaker, dog whisperer and unabashed Jersey Shore enthusiast, passed away quietly at his home in Manasquan, NJ on August 30. He was 73.
Jim was born in 1952 to Otto and Dorothy Fuhse. Growing up in Suffern, NY, his early passion for sports (as both a fan and player) propelled him to the high school varsity hockey team, and eventually to Ramapo College of New Jersey where he played both hockey and football. As a reliable place kicker for the Road Runners, his 34-yard field goal holds the distinction of being the first-ever points scored in the school's inaugural football season. And his hockey exploits earned him a place in the Ramapo College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994. The colorful tales of his sporting exploits (and foibles) would entertain friends for decades to come. In one Forrest Gump-worthy episode, Jim drove to a third-place finish in the 1976 collegiate harness racing championships at Roosevelt Raceway; portending a penchant for the ponies that would stay with him for a lifetime, both as an owner and handicapper.
With his collegiate playing days nearing an end, and eager to channel his growing fandom for the NJ/NY sports scene, Jim began honing his skills as a writer and communicator, landing a student assistant role in the RCNJ Public relations office. His talents flourished and he was hired as the school's first Sports Information Director after his graduation in 1977. Not content to simply cover the school's sports happenings, Jim added the role of assistant varsity golf coach to his duties: a six-year stint highlighted by RCNJ's Division III National Championship in 1982. Not surprisingly, his travels to matches and tournaments during that time spawned more memorable stories amongst fellow coaches and players alike, and a love for the game that continued with countless rounds (often with close pal Vince Nardiello on the Jersey Shore's many county courses) and trips with friends to Myrtle Beach.
In 1981 RCNJ was selected as the host site for a Women's Tennis Association tournament - The Volvo Cup - that served as the late August lead-up to the nearby U.S. Open. Jim's SID duties were happily expanded to include assisting with the publicity needs of the event. He thrived on the exposure to a professional sports setting and made himself indispensable to promoters, players, coaches and media. He had found his calling, and others quickly took note. By the mid-80's, the Ramapo College tour stop was hosting some of the biggest names in the sport and Jim's reputation landed him a role helping support publicity efforts for the tour's season-ending Virginia Slims Championships at New York's Madison Square Garden. When a spot on the tour's full-time publicity team opened up, the sports-hungry kid from Suffern was off to see the world.
Through the 90's and early 2000's Jim became a staple on the WTA circuit, with job titles including media relations, player promotions and special projects. Titles aside, he was a close confidant, career guide and friend to dozens of the top players who emerged in that era, Steffi Graf and Jennifer Capriati among them. Jim's calling card was his ability to forge relationships. He "knew everybody" -- from players, coaches and parents, to tournament officials, sponsors, beat writers and broadcasters, even movie producers and restauranteurs. He opened doors and always kept the growth and welfare of the players and Tour in the forefront. It was a pivotal time for the women's game and it's fair to say Jim played a role in helping to innovate and strategize the path forward, particularly when it came to generating awareness and coverage. There are plenty of references to his shepherding of the young phenom Capriati, to his shaping stories and appearances as Graf's legend grew, and to nurturing a wide range of celebrity and other interest in the sport. His personal touch and care were well known, and his promotional flair was unmatched, whether conducting entertaining on-court interviews or devising the now familiar post-match "ball flight" spectacle, where winners wallop autographed tennis balls into the cheering crowd. His idea.
Jim's globetrotting tennis travels took him to Melbourne, Australia, to Wimbledon, to Paris and far beyond, and a subsequent stint with the Marlboro (Indy Car) Racing Team also meant life spent mostly on the road. But he always returned to his beloved Jersey Shore. His home in Manasquan was a place to savor everything about the beach life: the food, the music, the very scene itself. His door was always open and his blender was always whirring with concoctions for couch-crashing friends and even tennis players seeking refuge from the rigors of the tour. On even the most crowded nights at Leggett's, the bartending staff could pick out Jim's smile for quick service. His presence was big, friendly and endlessly entertaining, whether regaling a group with late-night Springsteen impersonations, authoring a passionate letter to the editor of the Asbury Park Press about a pressing community or political topic, or calling in to a New York sports talk radio show with an "obvious" move the Jets or Yankees should be making. His opinions, predictions, wagering and investment advice were always there for the taking, and he relished the role of the affable contrarian.
Jim's life overflowed with stories and memories that would fill volumes, but the most courageous chapters were his nearly three decades-long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Even as the disease began to slowly rob him of mobility, he endured to enjoy the activities he loved for as long as his body would allow, playing memorable rounds of golf from a specially equipped cart, swimming laps with the help of a flotation device and continuing to make the rounds of his favorite Shore spots in custom motorized style. His spirit and positivity throughout left a lasting impression on all who knew and loved him. Jim eventually succumbed to pancreatic cancer, passing away peacefully at home. It was a holiday weekend, the kind of lively, sunny Saturday beach day he loved.
Jim was pre-deceased by his parents and sister, and leaves behind close family members, including aunt Patty McLaughlin and cousins Leslie Newman, Dierdre Rupert, Christine Cohen and Stephanie Clark. He is mourned by countless friends and colleagues, and by a group of supremely devoted caregivers and medical staff that became family during Jim's later years. An "In Memoriam" tribute to Jim was included at this year's US Open and admiring messages have flowed in from across the tennis world.
A celebration of Jim's life is being planned for Spring 2026, with details to follow. His innate bond with animals and generous support of animal-related causes will be a lasting part of his legacy. Through the years, his beloved puppies Rags, Daisy, Sandy, Morgan and Dakota were never far from his side, and his connection with them was something to behold. Those wishing to make donations in Jim's memory are kindly requested to do so at https://www.ASPCA.org or https://www.animalleague.org
Services are entrusted to Jersey Shore Cremation Service, 43 Taylor Avenue, Manasquan, NJ - JerseyShoreCremation.com