Victor Riesel
| Victor Riesel | |
|---|---|
Victor Riesel in 1956, before and after the acid attack which left him blind
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| Born |
March 26, 1913 Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 4, 1995 (aged 81) Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Journalist, syndicated columnist |
Victor Riesel (/rᵻˈzɛl/; March 26, 1913 – January 4, 1995) was an American newspaper journalist and columnist who specialized in news related to labor unions. At the height of his career, his column on labor union issues was syndicated to 356 newspapers in the United States. In an incident which made national headlines for almost a year, a gangster threw sulfuric acid in his face on a public street in New York City on April 5, 1956, causing his permanent blindness.
Riesel was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City to Nathan and Sophie Riesel. The family lived in a cold water flat near the elevated railroad tracks. The Riesels were Jewish, and their neighbors were primarily Jewish and Italian American. Victor's father, Nathan, had helped organize the Bonnaz, Singer, and Hand Embroiderers' Union, Local 66, of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in 1913, and held the Card No. 1 in the local union. In time, Nathan Riesel was appointed a staff member of the union and elected secretary-treasurer and then president of the local union. Victor attended elementary school at P.S. 19 (now the Judith K. Weiss School).
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