Sal Nociforo Dies

Considered a founding father of event insurance, Sal Nociforo, 65, died in Long Island, N.Y., July 3rd of an apparent heart attack.

Nociforo co-founded AIG Entertainment Insurance in 1969 after a career at Manhattan Casualty. He moved to Reliance National, a leader in promoter and entertainer insurance, in 1992.

“There wasn’t anything in the beginning of the event business that he wasn’t involved in,” insurance broker Walter Howell told Pollstar.

In fact, Nociforo insured the original Woodstock with a $2,000 premium and zero claims. He also insured the last Woodstock concert in 1999 for $1.9 million, which did have claims.

In between, he covered fledgling tours for The Police and U2, insured the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland and worked with the Rev. Billy Graham.