It is with great sadness that AMSOIL announces the passing of their founder, Al Amatuzio. Al passed away on Friday night at his home surrounded by his loved ones.
Al was born in Duluth, MN in 1924 and exhibited an entrepreneurial nature from a very young age, selling newspapers and magazines, collecting scrap iron, and coming up with a number of schemes to support his family.
He attended the Naval Air Corps training after high school and served in the Merchant Marines, the Air Force, and eventually the Duluth Air National Guard. He spent a total of 25 years as a fighter pilot and squadron commander.
He learned through his career that jet engines could function with just synthetic oil and reasoned that the same benefits could be applied to cars and trucks. He began research and development on a synthetic motor oil in 1963 and by 1966 had developed his first formula. Throughout the rest of the decade he continued to work on the formula and in 1972 AMSOIL became the world’s first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute service requirements, changing the lubricant industry forever.
In a statement, AMSOIL said of Al, “Al was generous in all respects and had particular compassion for children, animals and military causes. He touched the lives of many and will be missed by family, friends and thousands of loyal AMSOIL employees and dealers.”
A memorial service will be held at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) Auditorium in Duluth, Minn. on Saturday, April 15 beginning at 12 p.m. with a service at 1 p.m.
Al’s family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in Al’s name to Animal Allies of Duluth, the Douglas County Humane Society and the AMSOIL Northland Law Enforcement K-9 Foundation.
Animal Allies of Duluth
Adeline Green
4006 Airport Road
Duluth, MN 55811
www.animalallies.net
Douglas County Humane Society
Sheila Keup
138 Moccasin Mike Road
Superior, WI 54880
www.hsdcpets.com
AMSOIL Northland Law Enforcement Foundation
Deena Peterson
One AMSOIL Center
Superior, WI 54880
www.northlandk9.org