Claire Killam Riggs

1929 - 2025

(Iona) Claire Killam Riggs. 1929-2025.

Claire died peacefully at home in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

Claire, the daughter of Evangeline and Scott Killam, was born and raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada along with her brother Harrison and sister Nancy. She attended Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, where she earned a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biology in 1951. She then entered Radcliffe College where she earned her Masters of Science in Biology and started work towards a PhD in Botany. She met her husband, Austen Fox Riggs, II, (1924-2015) in a biology lab led by Austen (then a graduate student at Harvard). When The University of Texas at Austin recruited Dr. Riggs, the young family moved to Texas in 1956, where Claire and Austen lived the rest of their lives.

Throughout her life, Claire remained a scientist, always curious about the way things worked. She continued to take graduate science classes and worked with her husband and his graduate students managing his research lab. She worked with Austen investigating the structure of hemoglobin and co-authored several peer-reviewed papers. The last of which appeared in 2014 when she was 85.

Claire was a long-time member of the Friends Meeting of Austin. Claire truly walked across this world, answering that of God in every person. In good Friends' tradition, Claire participated in "Speaking Truth to Power" as a member of the Travis County Democratic Women's Committee, serving as Treasurer for many years and helping facilitate the Committee's ability to meet at the Friends Meeting House.

Claire inherited her mother's love of gardening, which led to her lifelong interest in plants and in studying botany in college. She was often found tending her gardens, undaunted by the challenges of drought, heat, and rocky soils. She showed determination, rejoicing in the variety of plants that would grow in Texas.

Claire loved to play the piano, from Chopin and Debussy to Broadway hits and folk music. She successfully continued to play despite suffering a stroke in 2022. Her tenacity and persistence helped her to heal and enjoy the remaining years of her life.

Claire will be deeply missed by her three children: Harold Austen Riggs (Boston, Mass.), Ann Leslie Griggs (Norwich, Vermont), and Jennifer Scott Riggs (Austin, Texas). Claire had three grandchildren: Russell K. Griggs, Hannah K. Riggs, and Whitney Scott Griggs. Both Claire and Austen were also dearly loved by their nieces and nephews: David Riggs, Elizabeth Riggs, Nancy Angell, Gordon Riggs, Louise Kelly, and Barbara Craft.

The family is particularly grateful for the friendship and care provided by O in Claire's final three years along with a cohort of other caregivers.

A celebration of Claire and Austen's life and a tree planting will be scheduled later in the spring. Donations in her name to the Friends Meeting of Austin or to the Audubon Society would be appreciated.