Anthony A. Martino, founder, chairman and CEO of Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting, passed away on Jan. 27. He was 75 years old. Martino began his career in 1959 with a repair shop specializing in automatic transmission repair. In 1967, he sold his interest in Aamco after guiding it to industry leadership. Then in 1972, he opened Maaco Auto Painting & Bodyworks center, positioning the brand between low-cost auto painters of lesser quality and expensive dealership work. "About all I had to interest franchisees was my reputation, so I turned my initials around and used them again," Martino recalled. "It seemed to work very well." Today, nearly 500 Maaco facilities repair and paint more than 700,000 vehicles a year, the vast majority requiring collision or cosmetic body repairs. About one-fourth of the vehicles are for national and local fleets. Anthony Martino's son Mark will move from vice chairman to chairman. David Lapps, a 30-year veteran of Maaco, will assume the position of president. In addition to his son Mark, Martino is survived by his wife Karen; two other sons, Jerry and Christopher; and three daughters, Lisa, Kim and Stacey.