Obituary: Richard Slifka, Chairman of Global Partners
Richard Slifka, chairman of the board of Global Partners, who with his late brother, Alfred, helped shape Global over more than six decades, died on May 25. He was 85.
“Richard helped lay the foundation for what Global is today, working alongside my father with quiet strength and enduring values,” said Eric Slifka, president and CEO of Global Partners LP. Eric Slifka is Alfred’s son and Richard’s nephew.
“He brought diligence, consistency, and a sense of purpose to everything he did, always putting people and community at the center of his work,” Eric Slifka said of his uncle. “He will be deeply missed.”
Richard Slifka joined the company in 1963 and held various leadership and governance roles throughout his career, including treasurer and director of Global Companies LLC and president of Global Petroleum Corp. He was elected vice chairman of Global GP LLC in 2005 and became chairman in 2014.
He also served as president of the Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association, a past director of the New England Fuel Institute (now the National Energy & Fuels Institute), and brought valuable continuity to the board through his deep industry experience and institutional knowledge.
NEFI noted that Richard and Alfred were both honored as NEFI Legends, and that Eric Slifka will be honored as a Legend this summer at the HEAT Show, “marking the rare occasion when three members of the same family have been so honored for their contributions to the industry.”
Beyond the business, Richard Slifka was the quiet force behind much of Global’s charitable work. He served on the board of directors of St. Francis House for over 20 years, the board of trustees of Boston Medical Center for 15 years, and as director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for over 40 years. His generosity and community spirit touched countless lives.
Richard is survived by his wife, Rosalyn; his children, Amy and her husband Jamie, Karen and her husband Jeffery, Andrew and his wife Jodi, and six grandchildren.
Global Partners is an owner, supplier, and operator of liquid energy terminals, fueling locations, and retail locations. Global operates or maintains dedicated storage at 54 liquid energy terminals—with connectivity to strategic rail, pipeline, and marine assets—spanning from Maine to Florida and into the U.S. Gulf States. Through this extensive network, the company distributes gasoline, distillates, residual oil, and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers, and commercial customers. In addition, Global owns, operates and/or supplies approximately 1,700 retail locations across the Northeast states, the Mid-Atlantic, and Texas.
This obituary for Richard Slifka was compiled from a news release issued by Global Partners and an announcement by the National Energy & Fuels Institute.