Obituary of Albert Foundos

ALBERT P. FOUNDOS May 23, 1935 - April 23, 2021 Albert Periklis Foundos emigrated from Albanian via Greece to the US with his family in 1948 at the young age of 13. Here, he grew up with his family in the Bronx. He was often working in some part-time capacity in his father’s dry cleaners, or the local vegetable store, grocery or the ice cream shop. He went on to study Chemical Engineering, earned his MBA from the City College of New York, and served as a Captain in the US Army. Al was a notorious serial entrepreneur. He was a partner in George Birchall Associates, he founded Fluid Data, Inc. in 1972 serving as Chairman and CEO across operations in New York, London, and Houston, and in his retirement, he was involved in the startup of Humicon which sold the first electronic humidor system. He then founded Cigar Oasis, Inc. which has been passed down to his family and is still operating to this day. Among his other ventures were working with Bendix Corp. and Lamsia. Lamsia Corp was founded with his brother Lou to give back to Albania as communism fell. With unemployment rampant, the brothers felt any investments they made would be vital to their home community. By investing in a clothing factory, building a hotel on family property, opening the first Cinema in Korca and other smaller ventures they honored the place of their birth. Over the years, Al was a dedicated member of a myriad of organizations. Among the places he dedicated his time, energy, and money were: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, International Orthodox Christian Charities, National Albanian American Council, Albanian American National Organization, St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church of Naples, FL, and St. Nicholas Albanian Orthodox Church in Jamaica Estates, NY where he has been a devoted lifelong member. During Al’s retirement in Naples, FL he was involved in numerous clubs and the rest of his time was spent on the golf course. Al had a kind and generous spirit which touched countless lives. He went out of his way to help anyone in his community, foremost as an advisor and role model. Even in his final days, Al didn’t let an email go without a response. The kindness he showed others will echo for generations to come. In 1959, Al married Joan Malasko and they were blessed with a beautiful marriage. He is survived by his brother Louis Ilia Foundos (m. Linda); his son, Phillip Foundos (m. Johanna), and his four kids Matthew, Christina, Andrew, and Nicholas; his daughter Donna Oswald (m. James), and her three kids Kimberly, Daniel, and Alex; his daughter Christine Beno (m. Thoma), and her two kids James and Daniela, among countless other loved nieces, nephews, godchildren, and lives he touched around the globe. He now joins his wife Joan, who passed in 2007; his sister Viola, who passed in 2019; and his parents Llambi & Orthodoxia. May their memories be eternal. All those who knew Al were truly blessed by his loving spirit and selflessness.