The family held a private graveside service at Princeton cemetery with Pastor David Davis, Dr. Allison Boden, and The Reverend Paul Jeanes III officiating.
Millard was born on July 9, 1942, in Durham, North Carolina, elder son to the late Dr. Millard M. Riggs and the late Letha Mae Cagle. Millard grew up in Morganton, NC graduating from Morganton High School. He attended Duke University and graduated from Dickinson College with degrees in Organic Chemistry and Psychology.
He went to work immediately with the Celanese Corporation holding key management positions in the Specialty Chemical Division. He served as President of the Specialty Chemical Trade Association and was President of Wilmington Chemical Corporation, a specialty polymer manufacturer with worldwide sales in Wilmington, Delaware. Professionally, Millard transitioned in 1981 when he joined Merrill Lynch for 27 years in Princeton. He was recruited to Smith Barney’s Princeton/Lawrenceville office where he was First Vice President of their Wealth Management division.
Millard had many community interests that included Friends of the Princeton University Library, Chair of the Princeton YMCA Executive Club, Vice Chair of Princeton Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and Vice Chair of the Council for the Princeton University Concerts Committee. His past leadership positions include Chairman of the Princeton Family YMCA, President of the Princeton Rotary Club, Trustee of Stoney Brook Watershed Association, and Finance Committee Member for the Nassau Presbyterian Church. He also co-founded Job Seekers, a venture of Trinity and Nassau Churches. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the YMCA Brandywine Region in 1991, the Paul Harris Award in 1991, and the Francis G. Clark Award in 1989.
Millard was a man that enjoyed every aspect of life as he traveled the world, had an abiding love of music, and was an avid collector of rare and antiquarian books. He formed deep, meaningful relationships with people all over the world and always made a positive impact on everyone he met. He had a tremendous ability to cultivate in nature with appreciation of beautiful gardens, and seeing all of God’s creatures. Millard was generous to others in need and an inspiration and role model to all ages. He derived great pleasure from all his activities with Grolier Club of New York, The Caxton Club in Chicago, The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, and the Brandywine Museum in Chadds Ford, PA. He was a member of Nassau Presbyterian Church, Princeton, NJ.
Beloved survivors include Jinous Jafari, life partner who resides at the home along with his loving children Elizabeth Riggs Pace of Louisville, KY, and David Wilson Riggs of Livingston, MT, brother David Lee Riggs (Marie) of Fuquay Varina, NC, sisters Nancy Mazza (Mark) of Greensboro, NC, Jan Riddle (Lee) of Durham, NC, and two grandchildren Emily Elizabeth Pace of Charlotte, NC and Grayson Glenn Pace of Louisville, KY. Millard has nieces and nephews along with great nieces and great nephews and the special children of Jinous that include Yash Jafari of New York City and Idin Jafari of Princeton, NJ.
His Labradors Lady and Aspen were dear companions to him.
The family thanks the entire medical team from Princeton Medical Center and Capital Health Medical Center for their professional service and gracious attention to his care.
Memorials may be directed to K9 Care Montana, Inc. PO Box 490, Livingston, MT59047
(www.K9CareMontana.org) or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the directions of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.