Richard Nagler Named Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation Board President
Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation (SYVCHF) has elected Richard Nagler as President of the SYVCHF Board of Directors, and Charles Chester has rejoined as a Board Director.
“Thanks to our engaged and active community, led by the SYVCH Foundation Board of Directors who understand and value high-quality health care, SYVCH can continue to provide the highest level of care and save lives,” said Katie Gorndt, SYVCH Vice President and Director of Nursing. “We are fortunate and honored to have Rich Nagler at the helm.”
A resident of the Santa Ynez Valley for more than 15 years, Mr. Nagler is a retired healthcare executive. As an active community member, he serves on the board of Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach, California Museum of Art and Nature, and Ridley-Tree Cancer Center and as a member and former President of the Los Olivos Rotary Club. He has also served on the Board of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as Transiciones De Guatemala, Land Trust for Santa Barbara County, Arts Outreach, and The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation.
Mr. Nagler’s passion is advancing healthcare scholarships for those seeking careers in health care and improving access to quality medical care for all. This year, he and his wife Janice established the Nagler Family Scholarship Fund through SYVCH Foundation’s scholarship program to support local residents who are entering or enrolled in a medical or health-related field of study and committed to pursuing careers in the community.
Mr. Nagler will replace Judith Dale as president, and she will remain on the board as Vice President. Dale’s family has been involved in the hospital from the very beginning. Her mother was part of the group of women who formed the Hospital’s Auxiliary raising the seed money to build the hospital 60 years ago. Through her father’s landscape businesses, Evert’s Rainbow Landscaping Nursery, her family tended to the hospital grounds. Dale has resided on the foundation’s board since 2017. She credits SYVCH for incredible care that has saved the lives of her family members on multiple occasions.
In addition to Mr. Nagler’s election as president, Charles Chester has rejoined the SYVCH Foundation Board of Directors. He served on the Board from 2004 to 2012 as Vice President for three years and President for two years. He also served as Co-Chair with Tresha Sell for the hospital’s building campaign from 2006 to 2009. Mr. Chester’s efforts helped that campaign surpass the $7 million fundraising goal, raising $7.3 million.
Mr. Chester is the former Finance and Investment Committee Chair and has continued to serve on the committee since 2004. He retired in January 2003 as Vice President of Merrill Lynch and was a stockbroker for 33 years in Santa Barbara. He lives in Solvang with his wife, Diane, and has been a dedicated supporter of local nonprofits.
SYVCHF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to develop, manage and channel the community’s financial support on behalf of Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, thereby serving not only to protect, but also enhance the hospital as a valuable community asset. Since 1978, the Foundation has provided more than $36 million to the hospital in support of critical capital projects, programs and services. For more information visit cottagehealth.org/syvchfoundation
SYVCH Foundation 2024 Board of Directors include: board officers Richard Nagler, President; Judith Dale, Vice President; Tresha Sell, Secretary; Michael Sgobba, Treasurer; and Directors, Barbara Anderson, J. Robert Andrews, Charles Chester, Richard Crutchfield, Gustavo Dascanio, MD, Jonathan Grunzweig, Charles “C.J.” Jackson and Ernie Zomalt.
