Roger J. Buysse, the founder and chairman emeritus of The Fourth Seacoast Publishing Co., died Saturday at age 93.
Roger Buysse
Roger Buysse
Fueled by a passion for the Port of Detroit, he began the company in 1960 in St. Clair Shores, where he lived and worked. "The promotion of and devotion to the international trade community of the Port of Detroit, on the business side of it, is his biggest legacy," said his son Tom, who is president and publisher of the company. Buysse was born in Indiana and moved to Detroit when he was 13. He worked as a paper boy for the Detroit Times newspaper, growing his route to more than 300 customers by the time he graduated from St. Vincent's High School. He served in World War II as a radio operator in the South Pacific. Under the GI Bill, he attended and graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy, earning a bachelor's and master's degree. Buysse was a longtime supporter of the school, and its softball field was dedicated as Buysse Ballpark in 2004. He worked for the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority during the 1950s and was heavily involved in lobbying for the creation of the St. Lawrence Seaway, a system of locks, channels and canals in the U.S. and Canada. Realizing the need for a cargo and international trade directory following the seaway's opening in 1959, Buysse began The Fourth Seacoast Publishing. He started the Detroit Quick Caller air cargo directories in 1974 and began expanding market by market nationwide. Quick Caller serves 14 markets, according to its website, and has eight employees. Buysse was also a Boy Scout leader and usher at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Parish. He is survived by children, Tom, Terri and Tina, as well as six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Thursday 4-8 p.m. at Van Lerberghe Funeral Home, 30600 Harper Avenue, in St. Clair Shores. A funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at St. Isaac Jogues, 21100 Madison St.