The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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24 FEBRUARY 2017 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com BUSINESS OPERATIONS NEWS General Filters team met with the family to present the gifts and wish the family a Merry Christmas. "The entire company was enthusiastic about making this young lady's Christmas a happy one," Redner said. "I'm not sure who enjoyed this process more; the folks here at General Filters or the family that received our gifts." "Giving back to the community not only helps people in need, but lifts morale within the company," Abraham said. "It's an uplifting experience for everyone involved." General Filters thanked Novi's Youth Services and Barbara Shonibin for their assistance. FORMER NEFI CHAIRMAN WILLIAM BREED: 1929-2016 William Johnson Breed, who was a chairman and president of the New England Fuel Institute, served on the board of Petroleum Marketing Association of America, and was honored as one of the "Legends of Oil Heat" by NEFI in 1998, died on Dec. 4 in Lebanon, N.H. He was 87. Breed acquired Johnson & Dix Fuel Corporation in Springfield, Vt., in 1970, growing the company over the next 39 years until selling it to Irving Oil in 2009. He was born in Cambridge, Mass., on Oct. 12, 1929, to Lee Kennedy Breed and William J. Breed Sr. of Marblehead, Mass. Graduating from Marblehead High School in 1947, Breed completed a postgraduate year at Phillips Andover Academy before enrolling as a freshman at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. in 1948. He graduated in 1952 with a degree in business and advertising psychology, and married Judith Rogers in August of that year. After the wedding, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He spent 21 months in Korea as a battal- ion officer and saw action in North Korea. He served in the reserves until 1958. After returning from the war, He worked at Simonds Saw and Steel in Fitchburg, Mass., Sylvania Lighting Division in Salem, Mass., Pocahontas Fuel Company in Salem, Mass., and then Booma-Breed, Inc. in Swampscott, Mass., where he worked alongside his father in the family business. In 1970, he acquired the Johnson & Dix Fuel Corporation in Springfield, Vt. By 2000, Breed had sat across the table from over 58 small business owners, integrating them into Johnson & Dix's operations. Johnson & Dix was sold to Irving Oil in 2009. Breed served on the board of the Petroleum Marketing Association of America from 1992 – 1994. He was chairman and president of the New England Fuel Institute, and served on many other boards as an officer in various other industry orga- nizations. In 1998 Breed was honored as one of the "Legends of Oil Heat" by the New England Fuel Institute. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judy, his children Debra, Penny, William and David, and several grandchildren. A brother, George, predeceased him. HERBERT W. WENZEL: 1932-2016 Herbert W. Wenzel of Amherst, N.H., who worked as an oil deliveryman before going on to operate his own fuel oil company and a real estate company, died on Dec. 18, 2016. He was 84. Wenzel served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean conflict. He was discharged following the death of his father. He returned to New Hampshire to run the family business, The Baboosic Lake Pavilion in Amherst. During the summertime, the pavilion hosted dances in the evenings and was a local vacation destination. In his early 20s, Wenzel became an oil delivery driver for Crawford & Vogel Heating Oil Company. He started his own oil company, Wenzel Oil, and in 1978 he took over the oil company that had employed him as a driver to form Crawford-Vogel and Wenzel Heating Oil. He also owned and operated Herb Wenzel Real Estate in the Amherst area. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Wenzel was known for his sense of humor and loyalty. A "snowbird," Wenzel and his wife, Pauline, enjoyed winters in Marco Island, Fla., for over 30 years. He was a longtime member of the Masonic Fraternity, Bektash Shriners, and Milford Lions Club. Born May 18, 1932, in Manchester, N.H., he was the son of Herbert G. and Frances (Wheeler) Wenzel. Raised and educated in Manchester, he was a graduate of West High School. He is survived by his wife, Pauline (Charest) Wenzel, to whom he was married for 62 years; two daughters, Debra Rodd of Amherst, and Tamara Heaton of Danby, Vt.; four sons, William of Merrimack, N.H., Thomas and Richard, both of Amherst, and Michael of Bedford, N.H.; eight grandchildren; and three cousins and surrogate siblings, Kurt Wenzel Jr., Kenny Wenzel, and Michelene Bouchard. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his aunt and uncle, Elizabeth and Kurt Wenzel Sr., who helped raise him after the passing of his mother at a young age. This obituary was first published on the website of Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium and is republished here with permission of the family. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Herbert Wenzer's memory to the Alzheimer's Association, 166 S. River Rd. #210, Bedford, N.H. 03110. SAIL ENERGY ACQUIRES VAUGHN OIL Sail Energy of Portsmouth, N.H., acquired the heating oil deliv- ery and HVAC assets of Vaughn Oil Co., based in Smithfield, R.I., Cetane Associates announced. Sail Energy is a provider of retail fuels and related services in New England. The acquisi- tion was completed in January, said Cetane Associates, which is based in Kent, Conn., and provides merger, acquisition and financial advisory services to the retail energy marketing industry. l F O N