Richard Bergel, 90

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLA. – Richard “Dick” Bergel, of Palm Beach Gardens, passed away on June 14, 2025.

He was born on May 12, 1935, in Providence to Isadore and Anna (Capobianco) Bergel.

He was a standout multi-sport athlete at Mount Pleasant High School, in Providence, and graduated from Brandeis University, where he lettered for four years as a running back on the football team and was on the university’s first-ever track squad. 

He played a prominent role in the early years of Friends of Brandeis Athletics and was presented with the department’s Charlie Napoli Distinguished Achievement Award in 1990. He was a member of the Brandeis Athletics Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Brandeis University Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2001 and was a Lifetime Fellow of the university.

Dick was employed by Montgomery Ward from 1959 until his retirement in 1995. He rose to become vice chairman and a director of the company as well as chairman and CEO of the Lechmere chain. After living in Latham, New York; Menands, New York; Northbrook, Illinois; and Boston, Massachusetts, he retired to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Arthur, and is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mimi; his sons, Gary (Shari) and Mark; his granddaughters, Julia and Charlotte; his sister, Barbara Domenico (Steve); his brother-in-law, Herb Kaplan (Evie); and his sister-in-law, Judy Bergel.

Donations can be sent to The Shared Humanity Project.