Wally Amos, inventor of the famous Amos cookies, has died

Wally Amos, the entrepreneur behind the famous cookie company Famous Amos, has died. He was 88 years old.

His cause of death was dementia, his children said in a statement.

“With his Panama hat, his kazoo and his boundless optimism, Famous Amos was a great American success story and a source of black pride,” said children Sarah, Michael, Gregory and Shawn Amos.

“Our father taught us the importance of hard work, believing in ourselves and pursuing our dreams.”

Amos dedicated his life to baking the perfect cookie, telling NPR back 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 transfers to the work you do and makes it something absolutely fantastic,” he said at the time.

While most people today associate the Famous Amos brand with the yellow cookie boxes in the snack section of the supermarket, Amos' vision began in 1975 with a brick-and-mortar cookie shop in Los Angeles.

The cookies, which he made using his aunt's homemade recipe, were a success and the business flourished. But after declining sales in the late 1980s, Amos eventually sold the company.

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

The family said Amos died peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, Carol. They suggested that instead of flowers, people could donate to the Alzheimer's Association in his memory.

“We also know that he would be happy if you ate a chocolate chip cookie today.”

Copyright: NPR