Margalee Oelrich Riggan

At home, after a brief tussle with pancreatic cancer, Margalee succumbed on January 8, 2021. Margalee was the daughter of Margaret Noland Oelrich and Martin Emil William Oelrich, USMC. She was born on May 7, 1945 in Nashville, Tennessee. In June 1965 she married Roger John Luken, a fellow student at Vanderbilt University. Their marriage ended in April 1968 when Roger was killed in a freak theatre accident at Smith College while he was a student at Yale Drama School.

Margalee obtained her B.A. from Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven, Connecticut. After this, she returned to Vanderbilt University for graduate work in French Literature, receiving her M.A. in 1970. She met her second husband John Robinson Riggan (Rob) at Vanderbilt and they married on June 5, 1971. After her marriage Margalee had various administrative jobs following Rob’s writing career, including, development assistant at Marlboro College in Marlboro, Vermont; administrative assistant at Rowe Elementary School, in Rowe, Massachusetts; office manager at the Greenfield law firm Levy, Winer, Hodos, Berson, Blanker, Bishop & Davis; litigation paralegal at the Northampton firm of Fierst & Pucci; and real estate paralegal with Greenfield sole practitioner Richard C. Bishop.

Margalee was predeceased by her first husband, her parents, and a younger brother, William Noland Oelrich. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Rob Riggan as well as nephews, nieces and cousins. Besides her family, Margalee wishes to remember and thank all the many friends and neighbors who enriched her life.

At Margalee’s request there will be no services, and burial in Rowe’s North Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family.

Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home in Shelburne Falls is assisting the family. To send a message of condolence please visit www.smithkelleherfuneralhome.com

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