Bruce Riggins

Born on May 24, 1952 in Boston, he was the son of Ralph and Amelia Riggins. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his children, Matthew and Kelly; his sister Diane and husband Danny Correia of Easley, SC; his brother Paul and wife Loraine Riggins of Medfield, MA; his brother Michael and wife Bettyann Riggins of Easley, SC; his sister-in-law Karen and husband Billy Schmitt of Nantucket, MA; his brother-in-law Brian Hewitt of North Woodstock, NH; his sister-in-law Kathy Hewitt of Scituate, MA; and many nieces and nephews, along with grand-nieces and a grand-nephew.

Bruce was a man of many interests and an even bigger personality. He loved to spend time outside in his garden. He could grow zucchinis as big as his arm, but he would never eat a vegetable. He learned his love of gardening from his father, who grew up on a farm, and Bruce carried on that tradition throughout his life. Bruce also enjoyed fishing in Duxbury Bay, listening to Elvis, rabbit hunting, playing golf, and buying cars frequently enough to put the salesman’s children through college.

He was proud of his Albanian and Southern heritage and carried that sense of family and tradition throughout his life. Bruce rarely missed a sporting event for his children and was never accused of being a quiet spectator. Whether it was blowing an air horn every time his daughter touched the ball at a softball game or making his opinion of the referee known at the hockey rink, he was never afraid to support his children with passion and enthusiasm.

Bruce loved life's simple pleasures: ice cream sundaes for lunch with his children on "mental health days” from school, his sister's homemade cake frosting, giant orange creamsicle twists from the local ice cream shop, walking The Basin in New Hampshire with Susan, and more recently, enjoying the sunsets from the comfort of his back deck in Kingston. Whether he was sharing his opinion on how the grass should be cut (not in a circular pattern) or convincing himself he couldn’t swim in a four-foot pool while wearing scuba gear, he had a gift for creating memories that everyone who knew him will treasure forever.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate his life with a funeral service on Saturday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Sullivan Funeral Home at 551 Washington Street (Route 53), Hanover, with visiting hours to follow until 2 p.m.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, hospital staff, and security personnel at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital of Plymouth, the hospice team at Cranberry Hospice, friends, neighbors, and extended family members whose kindness, compassion, and support meant so much during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Bruce’s memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.