Richard Albert Freschi

Richard Albert Freschi was born February 11, 1937 in Alameda, California, the son of Albert and Marie (Flagiello) Freschi. His grandparents on both his father’s and his mother’s side of the family had immigrated to California from Italy. He was a 1954 graduate of Alameda High School, attended the University of California, Berkeley, and graduated from Armstrong University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business. During his business career, he founded two companies, was CEO of two other companies and successfully guided an Orange County biomedical planning industry for six years before taking his retirement in 1996. On February 26, 1961, Rich was married to Joy Silvia Ritter in San Joaquin County, California. Two children were born of this marriage, Paula and Lisa. Joy and Lisa predeceased Rich in 2005 and 2006, respectively6. Rich has resided in Villa Park for the past 41 years, during which time his record of civic service was extensive. He was elected to the Villa Park city Council in 1996, 2000 and again in 2004. He first served as Mayor in 1998, and then again in 2005. He is currently a Director of the Serrano Water District, having been elected to that office in 2008, 2010 and most recently in 2014. During 2008, he received the Governor’s appointment to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. During the same year, he was elected vice president of the Independent special Districts of Orange County (ISDOC), during 2010, he was elected President of ISDOC and re-elected president in 2012. His many committee appointments include: Chairman of the Villa Park Financial Advisory Committee; the Villa Park Fiscal Advisory Committee; Chair, Personnel Committee of the Orange County Sanitation District; and a member of the Public Utilities Committee. He was a member of the board of the OC Sanitation District; OC Vector Control District; and an alternate member of the Board of the OC Fire Authority. Rich’s most recent interests and concerns revolve around his membership on the Leadership Council of the St Joseph Hospital Foundation; the Villa Park Rotary Club, where he has been the motivating force behind the creation of the Villa Park Rotary Endowment; the B.P.O. Elks; the American Legion; and the Marines Memorial Association. He is a lifetime member of the CHP 11-99 Association; the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council; and a member of the Area Executive Board of the OC Management Council. Rich is survived by his daughter, Paula Koop and her two children Kyle and Nicole Kirshner; three children of his deceased daughter, Lisa Grau, Garret, Allie and Jenna Grau; his brother, Jerry, Jerry’s wife, Sue and children Julie and Gina. Memorial Service in celebration of his life will be held at the Waverley Chapel at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana, on Sunday, May 21st beginning at 1:00 pm. The public is invited. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the St Joseph Hospital Foundation in Richard Freschi’s name, or visit sjhfoundation.org and select “Make a Tribute/Memorial Gift.