NU Online News Service, Jan.11, 3:05 p.m. EST

Robert C. Schiff, former president and chief executive officer of the Schiff, Kreidler-Shell Insurance Agency and co-founder of the Cincinnati Insurance Co and Cincinnati Financial Corp., died Thursday. He was 86.

Cincinnati Financial said he was serving as a director emeritus at the time of his death and was a director of The Cincinnati Insurance Company since 1950 and a director of Cincinnati Financial since its incorporation in 1968. No cause of death was given.

Mr. Schiff, who lived in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill, Ohio, was born in Cincinnati June 26, 1923. He retired in 2004 from the boards of Cincinnati Financial and its four insurance subsidiaries. At that time, he also retired from Schiff, Kreidler-Shell Inc., a large, Cincinnati area insurance agency that he had served as chairman since 1991 and president from 1984 to 1991.

He formed Schiff, Kreidler-Shell in 1984 after leaving his position as senior vice president of Cincinnati Insurance to expand his agency business.

Mr. Schiff began his insurance career as an agent in 1945, following graduation from Ohio State University. While attending the university he played third base for two years on the baseball team.

John J. Schiff Jr., Robert Schiff's nephew and Cincinnati Financial chairman, commented, "Over Bob's 59-year career as an insurance agent, he epitomized the professionalism and personal involvement that independent agents bring to the table. Bob always spoke loud and clear on behalf of the people and businesses his agency served, and this customer perspective continues to contribute to the success of our company."

Kenneth W. Stecher, president and chief executive officer, added, "Bob believed that independent agents had personal relationships in the community and unique local knowledge that could lead to prosperity for an insurance company--a belief that led to one of the company's enduring competitive advantages."

Mr. Stecher said Mr. Schiff had demonstrated this belief in agents linking to the community by serving on many community boards, including Beech Acres, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Opera, Junior Achievement of Greater Cincinnati, Tall Stacks and the Cincinnati Zoo.

Mr. Schiff is survived by his wife, Adele; their two sons, Dr. James A. Schiff and Dr. Robert C. Schiff Jr., and six grandchildren.

Visitation will take place tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with services on Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., both at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church 5950 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati.

Special Reports /

Robert C. Schiff Of Cincinnati Insurance Co. Dies At 86

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