George L. Riggs

George L. Riggs, III, 75, of South Glastonbury, formerly of Wethersfield, passed away peacefully on December 7, 2025, at Hartford Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to the late George L. Riggs, Jr. and Catherine (Staltari) Riggs, George leaves behind a remarkable legacy of professional excellence, musical passion, and service to his community.
An honors graduate of the University of Hartford, where he won several awards for excellence, George also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut. He dedicated over 50 years to the accounting profession, building a distinguished career as an audit and quality-control partner at the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche and at two Manhattan-based regional accounting firms. Most recently, George served as an audit and assurance partner at FML CPA's, in Glastonbury, CT, where he was employed part-time at the time of his death. George truly loved answering complex accounting questions.
In his partial retirement, George enjoyed spending several months each year in Florida, traveling with Cathy, attending musical theater productions, visiting his children in NYC, and pursuing other leisure pursuits. He especially loved music and specifically enjoyed playing his bass trombone. George was a faithful, long-time member of the Middletown Symphonic Band and played in several other instrumental groups over the years. Persuaded by his wife to join a chorus, George has been a member of the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords for the past five years. Driven by his love of live entertainment, George served as a volunteer at the Bushnell Memorial Performing Arts Center for the past seven years.
In addition to his leisure activities, up until his death, George was an active member of the Board of Directors for the South Mill Village Association and served on boards and committees at First Church of Christ in Glastonbury.
George is survived by his beloved wife of almost fifty years, Cathy (Griswold) Riggs; his son, Jeffrey Riggs of Brooklyn, New York; his daughter, Rebecca Riggs and her husband, Bryan Kelley, of Brooklyn, New York; his brothers, Kenneth Riggs and Robert Riggs; mother-in-law, Lois Griswold; sister-in-law, Cynthia Cahoon and her husband, Gary; many nieces and nephews; and numerous friends and colleagues who remember him as a mentor, a good neighbor and a caring individual always willing to help out where needed. During his life, George loved his dogs, and is survived by his rescue Lilly.
A Memorial Service celebrating George's life will be held at First Church of Christ, Glastonbury, 2183 Main Street, Glastonbury, on Friday, December 19, 2025, at 2:00 pm. The Farley-Sullivan Funeral Home has handled the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to the Middletown Symphonic Band, Thomas Dyer, Treasurer, 32 West Wynd Terrace, Middletown, CT 06457, or to First Church of Christ Congregational, 2183 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033.