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Raine Riggs remembered by Burgettstown community

BURGETTSTOWN –According to family members, even as a little girl they knew Raine Riggs was going to do great things and make the world a better place.

Riggs, the wife of Levi Sanders and daughter-in-law of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, died Oct. 5 after falling ill three weeks earlier. She was 46. According to her family, at first the hospitals were stumped abot the cause of her illness, until she was brought to UPMC, where she was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer and died two days later.

Riggs was born Dec. 23, 1972, and grew up in Burgettstown with her parents, Richard Riggs and Rinda Yukevich Riggs, and sister, Renee Riggs. She graduated as valedictorian of the Burgettstown High School Class of 1990.

Her former health and physical education teacher Amy Froats described Riggs as the type of student every teacher hopes to have in class.

“She was one of those students you are glad to have,” she said. “She always did well and was very dedicated.”

Froats said Riggs was active in her school politics, serving as president of the Student Council, adding no one was surprised she moved on and did so well for herself.

“She was a very kind person,” she said. “I am not surprised at all she did well.”

Froats said though with all her many achievements, Riggs never looked for attention or accolades.

“She was very accomplished, but a very low-key and humble person,” she said.

After graduating, Riggs attended American University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

After American University, she attended Harvard and Brown universities, where she earned her master’s degree in geriatric neuropsychology and clinical sleep medicine.

It was during her time at Brown University that she received an award from the National Institute of Health for her research study on the affects of chemotherapy on the brain.

Riggs later earned her doctorate in neuropsychology at the University of Vermont.

She was also the co-director of behavioral medicine at Dartmouth Medical School for several years. While there, she developed and started its palliative care department at Dartmouth Medical Center.

Despite her heavy academic work, her family said she always found time for volunteer work in her community, and that is where she meet her husband.

The family stated Riggs was heavily involved in working with the homeless, especially homeless veterans, and it was while working at an emergency food shelter in Vermont, she met and later married Levi Sanders.

The family said Riggs spent time volunteering with pediatric hospice. She also volunteered at ground zero after the 9/11 attacks, providing counseling for survivors, first responders and the families of those who lost their lives.

She was the owner of Riggs Geriatric Psychology in Windsor, Vt.

Her family said with all her achievements in life, her favorite and was the day she became a mother. The family said she referred to that day as her “crowning achievement in life.”

She is the mother of Sunnee Riggs Sanders, Ryleigh Riggs Sanders and Grayson Riggs Sanders.

She is also survived by her grandmothers Gertrude M. Wilber Riggs and Carmelita Lee Gaines Yukevich; an aunt, Darlene Kuhn and her husband, Donald; uncles Randolph Ryan, Todd Clark and Herb Riggs and his wife, Jane; her father-in-law, Sen. Bernard Sanders and his wife, Jane; mother-in-law Susan Glaeser and her husband, Hendrik; and cousins Heather Kuhn, Nolan Ryan, Eric Ryan and wife Chrissy and Kristen Yukevich.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Herbert Lewis Riggs and Vincent W. Yukevich Jr.; an aunt, Dorcia Lee Ryan; and an uncle, Vincent Yukevich III.

Her family said it was her wish not to have a public service, but to ask those mourning her passing to continue her fight to make the world a better place. Those wishing to remember Riggs are asked to make a memorial donation in her memory to the charity that meant the most to her, Love Without Boundaries, P.O. Box 1861, Lowell, AK 72745, www.lovewithoutboundaries.com.

The Lee and Martin Funeral Home in Burgettstown was in charge of arrangements.

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