Schaumburg, Ill. — Al Ranieri, founder of American Guardian Inc. (AAGI) and the firm’s chairman of the board, passed away on April 29.

“We have lost an industry pioneer, and our cornerstone who supports our hearts and spirits,” said Tim Brugh, AAGI president. “But we will always ensure that Al’s firm belief in honesty, integrity and fairness remains alive at the core of our business.”

A certified public accountant and a chartered property casualty underwriter, Ranieri founded AAGI in 1997 with the goal of setting a higher standard for the administration of vehicle service contracts and ancillary F&I products.

Ranieri’s unwavering commitment to conducting business in an honest, ethical manner and mission to deliver superior products and personalized service continue to distinguish AAGI today, officials said. Prior to founding AAGI, Ranieri served as CEO and CFO at several insurance companies during his more than 30-year career.

Ranieri is survived by his wife, two daughters and four grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 3, in Lake Zurich, Ill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation at michaeljfox.org.