Wally Amos, the founder of Famous Amos cookies, has passed away.

 

Wally Amos, the entrepreneur behind the Famous Amos cookie enterprise, has passed away at the age of 88.

According to a statement from his children, the cause of death was dementia.

“With his Panama hat, kazoo, and boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story and a source of Black pride,” said his children Sarah, Michael, Gregory, and Shawn Amos. “Our dad taught us the value of hard work, believing in ourselves, and chasing our dreams.”

Amos dedicated his life to creating the perfect cookie, revealing to NPR in 2008 that the secret ingredient in his world-famous baked goods was love. “I think it's important to love what you do because that love is transferred to what you do, and it turns it into something absolutely fantastic,” he said.

While most people today associate the Famous Amos brand with the yellow-boxed cookies found in grocery stores, Amos’ vision began in 1975 as a brick-and-mortar cookie shop in Los Angeles. Using his aunt’s homemade recipe, the cookies quickly became a hit, and the business thrived. However, after declining sales in the late 1980s, Amos ultimately sold the company.

He later moved to Hawaii, where he continued baking his famous confections.

The family shared that Amos died peacefully at home with his wife, Carol, by his side. In lieu of flowers, they suggested donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in his memory. “We also know he would love it if you had a chocolate chip cookie today.”