May 4, 2004

William (Billy) Augenstein, president and owner of Royal Pet Supplies, died Sunday, April 18 of a heart attack. He was 51.

Following Augenstein’s death, the company reorganized under new president Robert Siegel. Siegel, a certified public accountant, joined Royal in 1989 as executive vice president and chief financial officer.

“Royal Pet wants to assure its employees, customers and suppliers that we have a very capable and experienced senior management staff in place and that it is committed to remain an independent company supporting independent retailers throughout the country,” the company stated in a release.

Augenstein’s brother Stephen was named senior vice president. He manages Royal’s e-commerce business and before joining Royal established a pet supply distribution business in Florida (subsequently sold) and owned a large pet retail store in South Florida.

Both Siegel and Stephen Augenstein will split their time between Royal’s New York and Florida offices.

Under the reorganization, vice president and chief operating officer Fred Hall will continue to head up Royal’s New York operations and vice president Gary Nocera will head up the Florida operations, which he established in 1995.

John O’Malley was promoted to director of purchasing.

The remaining senior managers include Clint Harris, New York sales manager; Nick Papain, purchasing agent; Douglas Sands, chief information officer; and Mike Zabinsky, coordinator of major accounts.  

Augenstein assumed leadership of Royal, which had been founded by his father Dave, in 1982. At the time, it was a small Northeast regional distributor, according to the company. Under Augenstein, it grew to become what may be the nation’s largest independent distributor of pet supplies, employing more than 400 people.

“Billy, an idea man, led Royal to new and greater heights,” the company wrote in announcing his death. “He changed the direction of his business through strong leadership and motivation of his loyal staff. His desire to ‘leave a legacy’ in the pet industry was certainly fulfilled.”

Augenstein is survived by his mother Irene, brother Stephen who runs Royal’s Florida division, nieces Jennifer and Sara and nephew Ryan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to the Bida-A-Wee Foundation of New York, N.Y. The 101-year-old non-profit organization runs three no-kill animal shelters and adoption centers in the New York area.

Bernadette and Jack Oehler are maintaining an online guestbook in the obituaries section at www.newsday.com for friends and colleagues to share memories of Augenstein through May 21, 2005.