Marking the Passing of James Fuchs

Notes of Concern…
…Jack Blair

ANOTHER GREAT ONE PASSES: JAMES FUCHS


Not too long ago I wrote a column about my friend George Steinbrenner’s passing. In that column I mentioned his role in starting the Silver Shield Foundation.

Since then a number of readers have asked about this foundation. If you have the time, visit the website: www.silvershieldfoundation.org

Steinbrenner’s partner in birthing this foundation was the famous Olympic medalist, James Fuchs. Jim died on October 8, 2010. Many Americans knew him as an athlete who represented our nation in both the discus and shot put. His story captured the attention of news organizations because he had a leg injury that required he develop a new way to compete in the shot put. He called his method “the sideways glide”.

Wikipedia notes that Fuchs “set world records…and completely dominated shot-putting over a two-year span in the 1950’s in the years between winning bronze medals at both the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki.”

At the Pan American games in 1951 held in Buenos Aires Jim won gold medals in both the Shot Put and the Discus competition.

So often we think of athletes as leaders. In the case of Jim Fuchs this was certainly the case. When I worked in international finance I had the privilege of meeting Jim and engaging his firm, Fuchs, Cuthrell & Company. On occasion, we would have lunch together at the “21 Club” in New York City. The place where we dined had no importance beyond the fact that it was wall-to-wall with “movers and shakers” every day. When Jim would enter the main room for lunch it would take some time for him to reach his table. The diners all seemed to know him, and to like him. His large stature and beaming smile made everyone feel at ease.

If Jim Fuchs had wanted a political career, he could have easily had one. He would have had neither difficulty raising money nor engaging large numbers of his wealthy and influential friends in support of any campaign.

But Jim had a nice reserve of modesty. He preferred helping others. In his main business enterprise he helped people who were seeking employment. Many of those men and women had been “out placed” and his firm was assigned the job of helping them re-establish their identities, prepare better resumes, deal with family and professional disappointment, and get back out into the world. In this endeavor, Jim and his associates were incredibly successful.

But it will perhaps be his work with the Silver Shield that brought him the most respect and admiration. Yet this foundation started out with every intention of doing good things anonymously. In New York City it is difficult to do anything important anonymously. So it is that Silver Shield is now recognized and heralded for the work it undertakes.

Jim’s work as chairman and executive director of Silver Shield had to be one of his most lasting accomplishments. The foundation provided each of 900 children of victims of the September terrorist attacks with $20,000 in funds to be used toward their education,

I am pleased to have the opportunity through this column to introduce you to a great American, James Fuchs, and to join his friends and colleagues in mourning his passing.