In Memoriam: Richard Ysmael, a Major Figure in B&I

Richard Ysmael, longtime head of Food Works, the in-house dining operation at Motorola, Inc., passed away October 14th after a long battle with lymphoma. Winner of the Silver Plate Award in 1982 in the Corporate Dining category, Ysmael was a highly respected and influential figure in the onsite foodservice industry.

Food Works for many years was regarded as the largest self-operated B&I in the country and a major innovator in the segment. A mentor and friend to countless operators and executives in the business dining segment, Ysmael was recognized many times by the Society for Foodservice Management (SFM).

In 2001, SFM launched the Richard Ysmael Distinguished Service Award, given annually to an individual in recognition of his/her exceptional service to SFM and the onsite foodservice industry. Ysmael himself was the first recipient.

Those wishing to honor his memory can do so by making a contribution to lymphoma research in the name of Richard’s Rangers. The link can be accessed here.