MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio (AP) — Peter Lewis, who shepherdedProgressive Corp. from a small-time
operation to one of the largest autoinsurers in the country and later became the billionaire backer
ofmarijuana legalization, died Saturday. He was 80.Philanthropic adviser Jennifer Frutchy said Lewis died at
his home in Coconut Grove, Fla.ProgressivePresident and CEO Glenn Renwick said the company owes its growth
andits culture of openness to Lewis. He said Lewis’ caring and honesty are"bedrock" values of the
company."The history of Progressive isvery much the history that Peter Lewis laid down," Renwick
said. Awillingness to take risks and constantly learn and grow are principlesthat can be traced to Lewis, he
added."He really was a special person, there’s no doubt about that," Renwick said.Lewisbecame
chief executive officer of Progressive in 1965, built from thecompany his father co-founded in 1937. Lewis
held the leadership postfor 35 years, during which Progressive — and Lewis’ fortune — steadilygrew. In 2006,
Forbes calculated his net worth at $1.4 billion.Lewisturned his wealth into support for a number of
progressive causes,including strong support for marijuana law reform that began after heused it following a
leg amputation. Lewis helped bankrollmarijuana-related causes in Ohio, Washington and Massachusetts.Ina 2011
interview with Forbes Magazine, Lewis said he first triedmarijuana at age 39. He said he found it to be
"better than scotch" andlater relied on it for pain management."I don’t believe that
lawsagainst things that people do regularly, like safe and responsible useof marijuana, make any
sense," he told Forbes. "Everything that has beendone to enforce these laws has had a negative
effect, with no results."Lewisalso spent time as a trustee of the Guggenheim Museum and stepped downin
2005, saying he saying disagreed with the institution’s focus oninternational expansion. He had been a
leading benefactor of the museum,donating tens of millions of dollars.For a time Lewis largelystopped giving
to local Cleveland-area concerns, saying there was littlecooperation among civic leaders or public
development. Last year,however, he donated $5 million to the Cleveland Institute of Art, thePlain Dealer
reported. At the time, he said he made the donation becausea development plan that impressed him in 2004 had
met his expectations.Lewisalso gave generously to his alma mater, Princeton University. Hedonated more than
$220 million to the school, where he also served as atrustee.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
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