PINEVILLE, NC - Renato Meiohas passed away on July 30, after suffering from Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease - a rare brain disease. He was born in Torino, Italy, on August 20, 1949 and lived in Italy until 1987 when he moved to the U.S. In Charlotte, NC, he met and married Yoko Kurobe, with whom he later had two children. Meiohas was a devoted husband and father, as well as a talented businessman. As director of sales at AGM in Pineville, NC, Meiohas was an integral partner. He and his family had recently moved to Tenafly, NJ, to open a new office for AGM. Meiohas had an unsuppressed energy and passion for life as well as a keen talent for business. His many interests included traveling, skiing, running, parachuting, rally car racing and motorcycling.

Meiohas joined AGM in Toronto in 1987, after a career as the North American sales manager for Bottero S.p.A., an Italian glass machinery manufacturer. He quickly became the driving force behind AGM's expansion by opening an office in Charlotte, NC. It was in Charlotte that he established his reputation in the glass industry by selling many CNC machines to fabricators. Meiohas then became involved in the stone industry in the early 1990s with the Intermac and Comandulli line of machinery. During the subsequent years, he set up a solid network of salespeople to cover the entire North American market. He was also instrumental in establishing the present AGM subsidiary structure with five locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Meiohas was one of the most recognizable figures in the stone industry and was well known to customers, suppliers and competitors. He has touched hundreds of people with his humor and stories of adventures. Meiohas was always brimming with new ideas, and was constantly looking for the next new challenge. He was energetic and passionate and lived life to the fullest without any regrets.

He is survived by his loving wife Yoko Kurobe Meiohas, his daughter, Chiara, and his son, Davide. Survivors also include his mother Renata Meiohas, his brothers Daniele, and Moreno, and his sisters Manuela and Iardena. Renato, his wife and children were members of Temple Israel in Charlotte. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

The funeral was held August 4, 2005, in Torino, Italy. Memorial contributions can be made to the Creutzfeldt Jakob Foundation.