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. He named his company Aamco Transmissions, an acronym for Anthony A. Martino & Co., and began franchising in 1962. He sold his interest in Aamco in 1967, and five years later opened a pilot Maaco Auto Painting & Bodyworks center, positioning the brand between low-cost auto painters of lesser quality and expensive dealership work. Martino reversed his initials to come up with the company’s name.

David Lapps, a 30-year veteran of Maaco, has become the company’s president. Anthony Martino’s son Mark, who has served in a number of capacities at the King of Prussia, Pa., company since the its founding, will move from vice chairman to chairman.

Martino is survived by his wife, Karen; three sons, Mark, Jerry and Christopher; and three daughters, Lisa, Kim and Stacey.