Dr. John L. Rigatti

Dr. John L. Rigatti, MD, 75, formerly of Walker Pond, died suddenly in Harrington Memorial Hospital, Southbridge.

Dr. Rigatti was born in Manhattan, NY, son of the late Dario and Antoinette (Pancheri) Rigatti on April 7, 1934. He is survived by his wife, Ellen (Forrest) Rigatti; four sons: Paul Rigatti, and his wife, Jane, of Port Charlotte, FL, Gary Rigatti, and his wife, Laurie, of Maryville, TN, Thomas Rigatti, and his wife, Cathleen, of San Francisco, CA, and Matthew Rigatti, and his wife, Janna, of Exeter, NH; four daughters: Marianne Rigatti of Brattleboro, VT, Michelle, and her husband, Jack Shoemaker, of Greensboro, NC, Cynthia Rigatti, and her husband, Brian Ashe, of Mill Valley, CA, and Melissa Rigatti, and her husband, Paul Farrow, of Toronto, Canada; eleven grandchildren: Molly, Hannah, Lauren, Taylor, Margot, Jordan, Thomas, Alexander, Hunter, Emma, and Sophia; two brothers: Frank Rigatti, and his wife, Karen, of Binghampton, NY, and George Rigatti, and his wife, Armida, of University Park, FL; two sisters: Catherine, wife of Dr. Albert Loffredo, of Schenectady, NY, and Teresa Rigatti, of Schenectady, NY; his cousin, Gino Gentilini, of Long Island, NY; and numerous nephews and nieces. Dr. Rigatti was predeceased by his brother, Joseph Rigatti.

Dr. Rigatti practiced medicine for over 50 years. He came to Sturbridge in 1963, and started his own family medicine practice. Later, his practice moved to Southbridge. He graduated from Avoca High School, Avoca, NY, in 1950, Columbia University in 1955, and Albany Medical School in 1959. Dr. Rigatti completed his internship at Brook Army Hospital, San Antonio, TX, and his residency at Dow Air Force Base, Bangor, ME. Dr. Rigatti was a veteran of the US Air Force. He was a member of The American Association of Family Practioners. He was instrumental in the development of the family practioner's program at Harrington Memorial Hospital, and served two separate terms as Chief of Staff at the hospital. He was a member of Cohasse Country Club, and of the YMCA, where he was an avid handball player. He will be sorely missed by his family, and friends.

Calling hours will be Friday, January 15, from 5 - 8, at Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy St., Southbridge, MA. The funeral will be Saturday, January 16, at 11 AM, in the Sturbridge Federated Church, 8 Maple St., Sturbridge, MA. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Leopold Schepp Foundation (a scholarship fund for medical students from underprivileged backgrounds), 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3000, New York, NY, 10176, or to a charity of one's choice.

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