Melissa Riggio

I am terribly sorry to learn of your family's loss.

From time to time, your daughter's name comes up in my life. I'm inspired by her life and wish I had met her. My own son died in 2004, and I have another son with Down Syndrome who I hope someday will be accepted into the Mellisa Riggio Higher Education program as he has Down Syndrome and loves life and participates as she did. Thank you for sharing her memory and for the foundation and charitable works in her honor that keep her memory alive.

While student teaching at BHS in 2004-5 under the tutelage of J.M., I had the pleasure of teaching Melissa. She was such a sweet child. Very eager to learn and an avid participant in all instructional activities. I forget the name of her special needs teacher, which is a shame because they had such a wonderful rapport with one another. I feel privileged to have known Melissa.

Dear Riggio Family,

Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for the loss of your beautiful daughter Melissa. Though we were not fortunate enough to have met her, we have seen her website, read her poems and songs and want to tell you how truly inspiring she IS. A few months after Melissa passed away, we were blessed with the birth of twin girls, Emma and Rebecca Vopal. Rebecca has Down syndrome and we live in Basking Ridge. I've bookmarked Melissa's site and one day when our girls are...

Dear Riggio family, I am very sorry. Your daughter was beautiful and inspired alot of peopl, me being one of them. Her wisdom has inspired me to become a doctor, and find a cure for Down's Syndrome. My cousin has Cerebral Palsy, and I know how you feel. Your family is in my prayers and will always be. May Melissa rest in peace. God Bless You!

A great loss and a wonderful legacy. Our daughters went to school together for 5 years. AnnaMarie still remembered Melissa and talks about her to today.
I just heard today that there is a program in Kingsborough in Melissas name. I am looking into it for AnnaMarie. I know what Melissa wanted and hopefully, AnnaMarie can live up to it.

Wow--I never met Melissa, but I knew Steve growing up in Brooklyn and recently my brother Art shared the story of Melissa as well as her grandmother Lena's passing. I am blown away by who Melissa was and is. My regret is not having met her. What a powerful spirit on this earth. What a difference she has made in so short a time. What an inspiration for me in how to live. And for me, with a son with diabetes and another with ADD, i now realize that without her I may not have had access to the ...

Dear Riggio Family, I was very sorry to hear of your loss from my brother Arthur. As a mother and special education teacher, I am profoundly touched by your amazing daughter and the impact she has made on the lives of others particularly those with special needs. She has done more in her 20 years than most in a lifetime. May you find peace and strength in knowing what an angel she has been and how many lives she continues to bless. Peace to you ... Your former neighbor from across the...