Jasper "Jack" Simmons Riggan Jr.

Jasper Simmons Riggan, Jr., age 86, died Friday October 31st 2014 at Rex Hospital. Jack, as he was known to family, friends, and colleagues, was born March 8th 1928 in Raleigh N.C., the son of Jasper Simmons Riggan and Louise Shaw Riggan. He lived in Raleigh in his early years, attending Ravenscroft School on Tucker St. before his father’s career took him to Norfolk VA. Growing up in Norfolk, he developed a life long love of sailing and the water, spending many happy years sailing the Lafayette River and Chesapeake Bay out of the Norfolk Yacht & Country Club.

Following graduation from Maury High School in Norfolk, Jack attended the College of William & Mary where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He graduated with a degree in business administration in 1951. Upon graduation, Jack began a career with the Seaboard Coastline Railroad in the Freight Traffic and Industrial Development Division in Atlanta, GA. While in Atlanta, Jack earned a business law degree from The Atlanta Law School. Most importantly, it was in Atlanta that Jack met his future wife Mary Allen (Cater) Poteat from Marion, N.C. They were married in August of 1960.

Jack’s career with the railroad took him and his family to West Palm Beach FL, Birmingham AL, and Memphis TN where they made many lasting friendships along the way before moving to Raleigh in October 1968 with their two young sons. They became very involved in church and community affairs. Jack continued his career with the railroad until the early eighties at which time he retired from the railroad and then began a successful career in commercial real estate with Graham Realty.

An important foundation of their life in Raleigh has been St. Michaels Episcopal Church where they have been faithful members since 1968. Jack served his church with three terms on the Vestry including one as Junior Warden as well as tenures on the Finance Committee.

Jack was active in the community as a long-standing member of the Kiwanis Club where he was on the Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation Board of Directors. For many years he served as Chairman of the Kiwanis Welfare Committee. He was also a member of The Sphinx Club and The Assembly.

Jack will be lovingly remembered by family and friends for his warmth, graciousness, and kindhearted spirit.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-four years and two sons, Dr. Jasper Simmons Riggan III and his wife Catherine Snyder Riggan of Lexington N.C. and John Poteat Riggan of Nashville, TN; a granddaughter Anna Blythe Riggan and a grandson Cole Simmons Riggan of Lexington, N.C. He is survived by a sister Mary Louise Baird of Norfolk, VA.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Springmoor Health Center for their faithful and attentive care of Jack in his final months as well as Dr. Todd Helton who provided so faithfully the finest medical care for so many years.

After a private burial at St. Michael’s Memorial Garden, a memorial service will be held Tuesday November 4th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 1520 Canterbury Rd. in Raleigh. Family will receive friends at a reception in the church parish hall immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Jack may be made to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 1520 Canterbury Rd. Raleigh NC 27608, or the Raleigh Kiwanis Foundation PO Box 12 Raleigh, NC 27602.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary’s Street, Raleigh.