Victor Riesel; Labor Columnist

Victor Riesel, 81, syndicated labor columnist who was blinded in an acid attack in 1956. The shocking attack near Lindy’s restaurant in New York City was attributed to garment district terrorists who wanted to silence Riesel’s campaign against infiltration of labor unions by gangsters. His column appeared in 350 newspapers. Surgical attempts in 1973 failed to restore his sight, but Riesel continued typing his columns and radio scripts until his retirement in 1990. He also lectured, taught and made television appearances. Born and reared in Manhattan, Riesel attended night school at New York’s City College while working in a hat factory, a lace plant and a steel mill. He began his column in 1942. On Wednesday in New York of a heart attack.