Augie Nieto

Augustine L. Nieto II (February 15, 1958 – February 22, 2023)[2] was the founder and chief executive of Life Fitness, as well as the chairman of Augie's Quest to Cure ALS, and the ALS Therapy Development Institute. He and his wife, Lynne, lived in Corona Del Mar, California, and had four children and eight grandchildren.[3]

For the Five for Fighting song about Nieto, see Augie Nieto (song).
Augie Nieto
Born(1958-02-15)February 15, 1958[1]
Anaheim, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 22, 2023(2023-02-22) (aged 65)
Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Alma materClaremont McKenna College
OrganizationAugie's Quest
Known forLife Fitness
TitleChief Inspiration Officer, Augie's Quest
Operating Advisor, North Castle Partners
Board member ofALS TDI
Curves International
Jenny Craig, Inc.
Octane Fitness
HydroMassage
SpouseLynne
Children4
AwardsClub Industry Lifetime Achievement Award
EY Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award
NAHJ President's Award

He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease in 2005, and established "Augie's Quest to Cure ALS", which has raised over $75 million in funds for research into the disease.[4] A documentary titled, "Augie" was released in 2017.[5][6][7]

Career

In 1977, Nieto founded Lifecycle with an exercise bike of the same name. In 1984, he sold the company to Bally Total Fitness, but was soon named president of the combined company, Life Fitness.[8] He left as an executive of the company upon its acquisition by the Brunswick Corporation.[3] In 2001, Nieto became an Operating Advisor for North Castle Partners, a private equity firm. As part of his position, he served on the boards of Curves International, Jenny Craig, and HydroMassage, all North Castle investments. Additionally, he was a former board member of Octane Fitness, Quest Software and DynaVox.[9] As a board member of Quest Software, he was part of a committee that helped to negotiate the sale of the company to Dell in 2012.[3]

Augie's Quest

In March 2005, Nieto was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. After diagnosis, he partnered with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and created "Augie's Quest" with the sole purpose of finding a cure for ALS. Funds he raised went completely to research, as administrative costs were covered by MDA. In 2014, Augie's Quest officially transitioned from MDA to the ALS Therapy Development Institute, a non-profit biotech and in 2018, Augie's Quest to Cure ALS became a stand-alone non-profit. Since 2006, Augie's Quest and ALS TDI have raised over $150 million for research under Augie's leadership.[10]

Five for Fighting song

In 2009, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting wrote a song in Nieto's honor on his album Slice to help raise awareness and funds for Augie's Quest.[11]

Sponsors

Corporate sponsors of Augie's Quest have included Crunch Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Zumba, Shea Homes, ClubCorp, Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, Curves, Safeway, Oakley, Jenny Craig, Life Fitness, and Equinox, among other companies.[12]

Awards

Nieto received the EY Supporter of Entrepreneurship Award for the Orange County Region in 2007.[13]

In 2008, he was given the President's Award by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ). Then NAHJ President Rafael Olmedia cited Nieto as someone who put a "Latino face on an American story."

In September 2015, he received the fitness industry's top honor, the Club Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.[14]

References
  1. “Augie” Nieto, sufferer and force behind ALS, dies at age 65
  2. Life Fitness, Augie’s Quest Founder Augie Nieto Dies
  3. "ALS TDI Team". ALS Therapy Development Institute. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  4. "Augie's Quest". Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  5. "Documentary "Augie" coming in 2017". Augie's Quest. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  6. "'Augie' Documentary Inspires Hope". Laguna Beach Local News. 2017-04-23. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  7. Augie (Official) (2017-10-09), Augie - Official Trailer, archived from the original on 2021-12-12, retrieved 2017-10-11
  8. "Augie Nieto II". North Castle Partners. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  9. "Augie & Team". Augie's Quest. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  10. "LEADERS Interview with Augie Nieto, Chairman of the Board, ALS TDI". www.leadersmag.com. 2016. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  11. "Five for Fighting". Five for Fighting. Wind Up Records. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  12. "Sponsors". Augie's Quest. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  13. "Augie Nieto, from success to significance – Orange County Register". 16 July 2007. Retrieved 2017-05-09.
  14. Kufahl, Pamela (2015-10-06). "Fitness Leader Augie Nieto Aims for a Future without ALS". Club Industry. Archived from the original on 2017-03-12. Retrieved 2017-05-09.

Bibliography
  • Reciprocity, Incorporated. Infinity Publishing. 2010. ISBN 978-0741456182.
  • Augie's Quest: One Man's Journey from Success to Significance. Bloomsbury. 2007. ISBN 978-1596914681.
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