Francis George "Spike" Fuson

“Spike” Fuson (aka/dba Francis George Fuson) passed away, at 78, while bouncing stark naked off the new MSG Sphere which, at the time, was lit up like a human eyeball. (Not really, but at least now Spike has your attention and he’d be thrilled to see you at his Celebration of Life party on July 26th.)

Born in 1944 in Baltimore, Spike left the mortal world on July 14, 2023, to join his mom, Aglaia, and his dad, Francis, who welcomed him with a huge party on a gorgeous white beach in a parallel Kefalonia with Jimmy Buffett playing Son of a Son of a Sailor.

Skipper Spike loved sailing around the Virgin Islands for adventure with his gorgeous bride of 59 years, Kathy (nee Booth). They met at Western High School. She was his sweetheart and the only love of his life. They traveled everywhere. From Machu Picchu to the Orient Express to cooking lessons in Tuscany to the islands of Greece. Truth be told, Spike and Kathy had that rare, one-of-a- kind love that can be summed up simply as – eternal and true.

Spike and Kathy have two beloved sons -- Mark and Todd, who had the incredible opportunity to see up close and personal a man who took on life with a unique gusto and flair that could only be described as “that’s Spike!” Above all things, Spike enjoyed being with his amazing family the most – a family that has blossomed to five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Spike is survived by Kathy, son Mark (Tasha) and Mark’s children Dylan, Cameron, and Briana, son Todd (Patti), and Todd’s children Xavier and Yanni, Spike’s brother Frank (Sondra), and Spike’s three sisters, Deena, Clair (John), and Adi (Jim).

Spike was a communications visionary/genius who predicted the global surge of instantaneous communications through the advent of cell phones. His legacy in the cell phone industry is remarkable and legendary. Business 101 began right after high school when Spike worked for his father at Reliable Service. This dynamic duo then started Communications Engineering which was a pioneer in the 2-way radio business.

Spike then worked for Reynold’s Electric – chasing and tracking radioactive clouds from above-ground nuclear testing. Amchitka Island, Alaska was next up with the US underground nuclear testing that occurred there.

Upon returning home to Las Vegas, Spike and Bob Mearns (with the help of Bob Campbell) started CEI – a communications business that built repeater and radio sites all over the Vegas Valley. CEI grew to become the largest communication business in southern Nevada that included sites at Potosi, Angel Peak and Black Mountain.

Spike, the visionary, correctly projected that radio communications would move towards cellular, and he became heavily involved with the national organizations, NABER and PCIA, both of which recognized Spike as the innovator he was and for his invaluable service to the industry.

Spike was also very active in the local Vegas local community where he was a member of the Las Vegas Executive Association and Vice President of the nonprofit UMC Foundation.

The Fuson Family will honor and celebrate Spike’s life on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Palm Southwest Mortuary, 7979 W. Warm Springs Rd., Las Vegas with a visitation from 10:30-11:30am with a prayer service beginning at 11:30am. (While we don’t know if Spike will show up in his vintage Porsche 356 Speedster or in his steam locomotive, we know for sure he’ll be wearing one of his many Tommy Bahama shirts. Be there or be square.)