Joe Moriarty, Sr., founder of Total Seal Piston Rings, lost his battle with heart disease and passed away June 1 at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a prolific inventor, holding several patents on piston rings, including Total Seal’s Gapless and Diamond Finish rings.

Born Maurice Joseph Moriarty in 1928 in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, he started Total Seal Piston Rings in 1967 with a rotary engine design that was intended for OEMs. The company experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, producing some of the most advanced steel ring manufacturing capabilities available today.

Moriarty was inducted into the Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) Hall of Fame at the 2014 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana. His namesake, Joey Moriarty, will continue to run Total Seal Piston Rings in Phoenix, Arizona.