AAA Board Chairman Robert Cardoza Dies

ORLANDO, Fla.--Sept. 27, 2002--Robert J. Cardoza, AAA Board of Directors chairman, died yesterday at the age of 59. He lived in Modesto, Calif.

Cardoza served on the AAA board since 1995 and was elected its chairman in April 2001 at the AAA Annual Meeting. He was re-elected to another one-year term in May of this year.

During his tenure as chairman of the nation's largest motoring and travel organization, membership increased by 1.5 million to 45.5 million.

Cardoza also served as a director of the California State Automobile Association (CSAA) in San Francisco since 1979 and was a former chairman of that club, which serves more than four million members in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

"Robert Cardoza was a man of strong character and vision," said AAA President and CEO Robert L. Darbelnet. "Through his leadership, he profoundly influenced the direction of AAA as it enters its second century of service."

Cardoza founded the Cardoza Company in 1995 and served as its president until his death. He also was president of the Cardoza Foundation, which donates to dozens of charities in California.

Cardoza, a California business and community leader and former banking executive, was active in numerous central California business, charitable and public service organizations including: Yosemite Community College District Board, Modesto Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross, Association for Retarded Citizens in Stanislaus County, and Rotary Club of Modesto.

In 1985, Cardoza was chosen by the Modesto American Legion as its "Man of the Year." In 1991, he was recognized as "Man of the Year" by the Modesto Chamber of Commerce.

Cardoza earned an AA in Agribusiness at Modesto Junior College and a BS in Agriculture Business Management at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Calif.