José Richa

José Richa (11 September 1934 – 17 December 2003) was a Brazilian politician who served as a senator of the state of Paraná from 1987 to 1995, earlier having served as governor from 1983 to 1986. Prior to serving these positions, he was the mayor of Londrina from 1973 to 1977, and a federal deputy from the state from 1962 to 1970. After being one of the founding members of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB), he later became one of the founding members of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB) and was a member of the party until his death in 2003. His son, Beto Richa, later became the governor of Paraná after having been mayor of the capital Curitiba.

Biography Richa was born in São Fidélis, Rio de Janeiro to Assad Richa and Ana Miguel Richa, both immigrants from Lebanon. He moved to Paraná in his youth, where he graduated with a degree in odontology from the Federal University of Paraná in 1959. He was married to Arlete Vilela, with whom he had three children, including Beto Richa.