Fred DeLuca, co-founder of sandwich chain Subway, died earlier this week. DeLuca was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013.

Brooklyn-born DeLuca grew up in the Bronx before moving to Connecticut where, in 1965, he started a sandwich shop.

He was just 17 and borrowed $1000 from a family friend to launch the business as a way to help pay for college, reports BuzzFeed.

By 1968 DeLuca and the family friend, Peter Buck, had opened the first Subway outlet and in the 1970s started franchising the concept.

Today the company is the largest global fast food chain with about 33,000 outlets across 110 countries.

Earlier this year Suzanne Greco, DeLuca’s sister, was named president of the business.