Theodore Forbes Riggen passed away peacefully with his loving wife, Pat, and his children at his side. Ted lived and loved with dignity. Learning, singing, music, and nature were all lifelong passions for Ted. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Ted was born on January 31, 1938 to Ann Forbes Riggen and Theodore K. Riggen in Geneva, Illinois. He spent his growing up years in Elmira, NY.

Ted graduated from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He then went on to earn several degrees at Syracuse University in forestry, music, and education. His time there culminated in a PhD in Education Administration. While at Syracuse University, Ted was part of the Hendricks Chapel Choir. This was a very special time for him. Later he sang with several choirs in Central Vermont and, in his retirement, he was a member of Espiritu Santo Catholic Church Choir. Every opportunity to sing and celebrate with music was magical for him.

Ted had a lengthy career serving in several education leadership positions around the country. These roles included Assistant Superintendent for Special Services for the City of Boston during its desegregation years and Vermont State Director of Special Education. The last 24 years of his amazing career he served as a co-principal at Barre Town Middle and Elementary School. He dearly loved this school, its students, and the amazingly wonderful teachers and paraprofessionals, office staff, cafeteria staff, custodians, bus drivers and so on. He loved the whole Barre Town community that he served for so long.

Ted will be remembered for his many years of bringing luminarias to neighborhoods in Montpelier on Christmas Eve with so many people involved in the project. Our “framily” on Transom Way will always remember his good cheer, puzzles, and his steadfast guardianship of milkweed and his joy at the monarchs who hatched there. His sense of humor and great laugh brought joy to so many of us.

Ted loved and cherished his years in Vermont and then the beautiful sunshine of Florida as well.

Ted struggled with serious health issues for many years and he was always valiant. Ted leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Patricia Murphy, and their three children and their spouses: Sarah and her husband Harry Alford, Jay and his wife Nicole, and James and his wife Aundria. Ted’s children were his greatest joys! He leaves his eight grandchildren: Averyana, Kinsley, Johnny, Tatum, Matthew, Archer, Izabel and Edward. Ted is also survived by his brother, Robert Riggen, and his wife Susan, and many nieces and nephews as well.

Our family will always be indebted to the faithful love, care, and support from Marjorie Murphy Mrsich and her husband Jack and Barbara Murphy Ferguson and her husband Mal.

The funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church at 2405 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor, Fl on 09/15/2022 at 10:30 am. Inurnment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Clearwater, FL.

To honor Ted’s memory please hold him in your thoughts and prayers. If you would like to donate, please send a donation to Barre Town Middle and Elementary School at 70 Websterville Rd, Barre, VT 05641 or to St. Augustine Catholic Church’s Soup Kitchen at 16 Barre St, Montpelier, VT 05602.