The company confirmed Thursday that longtime Centene CEO Michael Neidorff has died.

Neidorff, 79, headed the insurance company for 26 years, growing the company from a $40 million single health plan to today’s $125 billion healthcare company managing 25 million healthcare services . He announced plans to retire at the end of 2021 and took sick leave six weeks ago.

Last month, Sarah London was promoted to head of the company.

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to Michael’s family and loved ones,” London wrote in a statement. “Michael’s passion lives on among the women and men of Centene, and his commitment to his mission to transform the health of America’s most vulnerable citizens lives on.”

Nedorf is known for his philanthropy. He served as chairman of the board of directors of the National Urban League, his family said in the statement.

In the weeks following the 2014 civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, Nedorf spearheaded a $30 million investment in the community, “bringing much-needed opportunity and hope to the region and building small businesses in the community,” the statement said. family said.

The family requested that memorial donations be sent in his name to the Siteman Cancer Center, the St. Louis Opera, the St. Louis Symphony or the St. Louis Jewish Federation.