SCARBOROUGH — Stephen Joseph Rigney, 93, died peacefully Sept. 25, at the Maine Veterans’ Home in Scarborough.

Rigney was born in Freeport, Ill., on Aug. 11, 1920, to Stephen and Nellie Sughroue Rigney. He attended Aquin High School and Loras College, and later earned a master’s degree in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rigney enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during World War II as the aerological officer on the USS Sitkoh Bay in the Pacific.

On April 12, 1947, he married Rosemary Moran. Together they crossed the country as Rigney worked for the National Weather Service in San Francisco; Scottsbluff, Neb.; St. Louis; Madison, Wis., and finally Portland, where he retired in 1979.

Rigney was an avid reader and Green Bay Packers fan, and enjoyed gardening and traveling with Rosemary, especially to Ireland. Watching the weather was part of his daily routine throughout his life. He was happiest when he was spending time surrounded by his family. Following his retirement, he also enjoyed his weekly gathering over coffee with his weather buddies.

He was a longtime communicant of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

Rigney was predeceased by his wife Rosemary in 1999, granddaughter Courtney Rose Jackson and a brother, Francis Rigney.

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He is survived by three daughters, Jill and husband George, Mary Jo and husband Chuck Allen, and Molly and husband Don Jackson; seven grandchildren, Joe, Julie, Meghan, Scott, Dan, Kyle and Adam, and one great-grandson, Trevor.

The family would like to thank the entire staff of the Maine Veterans’ Home for their respectful, compassionate care.

There will be a private graveside service. Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland.

Those who wish may make contributions in his memory to Maine Veterans’ Home, Activities Department, 290 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074.


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