Victor M. Richel
Victor M. Richel (born May 7, 1938) is an American businessman, civic leader, and philanthropist born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors at RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ. In 2000, he founded the Richel Family Foundation with his wife Andrea.
Education
Richel completed his undergraduate studies at Villanova University in 1960. He then pursued additional studies in marketing and executive development at both Columbia University and Harvard University. In 2026, Richel was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Kean University for his leadership in higher education, public service, and the longstanding partnership between UCNJ and Kean under his chairmanship.
Early career
Richel was the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Statewide Savings Bank. He went on to become Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at Statewide Financial Corporation.
In 1996, Richel was appointed to the Banking Advisory Board of the New Jersey Department Of Banking and Insurance, after a nomination by Governor Christine Todd Whitman.
Richel has also served on the board of Thrift Institutions Community Investment Corporation of New Jersey (TICIC), as well as the Board of the New Jersey Savings League.
Richel then went on to become the Vice Chairman of the Board at Independence Community Bank Corporation prior to its sale to Sovereign Bank in June 2006.
He served as a senior officer of NUI Corp / Elizabethtown Gas Company.
Current affiliations
Richel is Chairman of the Board of Directors of RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ.
Richel is the Chairman, President & CEO of Dominion Partners, a financial investment, real estate partnership, and consulting organization that provides consultation to banks and companies throughout the world.
Additionally, he serves as Chairman of Westminster Properties, a development company and licensed as a New Jersey new home builder and property management group as well as Richel Commercial Brokerage.
Richel was nominated to the Board of Trustees at the Common Sense Institute of New Jersey in 2013. and previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Metuchen Savings Bank.
Civic activity
Richel is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and a member of the Board of Governors at UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ. He has served the boards since 1982 and as chairman since 1996. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at RWJBarnabas Health Trinitas Regional Medical Center, as well as the past chairman and President of the Friends of the Child Advocacy Center of Union County.
Richel serves on the board of Elizabethtown Healthcare Foundation. He is a member of The Two Hundred Club of Union County and the Union County Crime Stoppers.
Previously, he served as a Trustee at the Garden State Cancer Center, as well as, Pace University’s Lubin School of Business, the St. Peter's College Board of Regents and John Cabot University in Rome.
He was Chairman of the Alexian Brothers Hospital of Elizabeth and served as a member of the Board of Elizabeth General Medical Center.
Richel Family Foundation
The Richel Family Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Richel and his wife Andrea. The foundation's goals are to support the socio-economic needs of the citizens within Union County and New Jersey. Their children and their spouses: Sue and Ed Marchelitis, Dave and Heather Richel, and John and Kim Richel are members and trustees of the Foundation.
Honors and awards
- Recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 1999
- 2003 Christopher Columbus Humanitarian 2003
- 2011 Trinitas School of Nursing dedicates floor in honor
- Recipient of the Caritas Award presented by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
- 2016 Ronald D. Winthers Community College Trustee Leadership Award by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges.
- Named Alexian Brothers Hospital Man of the Year
- In 2006, Union County College dedicated the Victor M. Richel Student Commons
- Named 2018 NJHA Hospital Trustee of the Year
- In 2020, Trinitas Regional Medical Center dedicated the Victor M. Richel Conference Center
- In 2021 and again in 2025, Mr. Richel received the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Northeast Region Trustee Leadership Award