Colocation and interconnection provider Equinix (EQIX) issued the following statement Sunday night:
"It is with sadness that Equinix announces that Al Avery, one of the co-founders of Equinix, has passed away. Al, who retired from Equinix in 2003, had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and had recently received a lung transplant. He battled this illness valiantly, but passed on peacefully earlier this week with family at his side. Al and Jay Adelson started Equinix in 1998 when they worked together as facilities managers at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), where they developed the idea for a Neutral Internet Exchange (NIX) to create a physical place for networks to exchange critical information. Their critical work helped the Internet grow and today, the company Al helped build is the home to the mission-critical infrastructure of over 2,300 customers, many of which are vital to the information-driven world. Equinix has Al's legacy to thank. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Donations can be made in Al's name to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation."
