Douglas Vernon Rigler

1934 - 2024

Douglas Vernon Rigler passed on at home in Bethesda, MD, on August 22, 2024.

Douglas was born in Brookline, MA, on December 4, 1934, the son of the late Frank Vernon Rigler and Maye Haddix Rigler. As a young boy, he moved with his military family to locations including Hawaii and Virginia. The family of three eventually settled in Annapolis, MD, where Douglas graduated from the nearby Severn School at age 16.

Douglas was appointed to the United States Naval Academy. However, he had to wait a year to enroll because he was younger than the minimum age requirement. Douglas filled that year attending Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there and stayed connected to the university in the ensuing years.

At the Naval Academy, Douglas developed a passion for aviation. Following his graduation in 1956 and flight training, Douglas joined a squadron as a pilot of P2Vs, an antisubmarine patrol bomber. Douglas' years as a Navy pilot included aircraft carrier qualification, patrolling the east coast of North America and more.

Douglas left active duty in order to attend law school. He attended George Washington University Law School and, because of his love of flying, enrolled in the Navy's active reserves. While in law school, Douglas learned from an article in the Washington Post that he had been recalled to active duty. He served his country during the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crises. Douglas graduated from GWU Law School as an honors student and an editor of the Law Review.

While attending law school, Douglas met Katherine Curtis. They fell in love and married in1962. The couple packed numerous adventures, time with family and friends, and travel into their almost 62 years together. Although Douglas was an only child, he embraced Katherine's parents, three siblings and extended family, and loved them all deeply.

Douglas and Katherine settled in Bethesda, where they raised their children, Douglas Curtis Rigler and Katherine Brooke Rigler Adams. Much to Douglas and Katherine's delight and pleasure, his children (including daughter-in-law Penny Rigler and son-in-law Steven Adams) and grandchildren (Samuel Rigler, Garrick Adams, Wilson Rigler, and Charlotte Adams) all live in the area.

A highly experienced litigator, Douglas twice argued in the Supreme Court of the United States as lead counsel selected to speak for multiple parties, including five foreign governments. He also argued in numerous federal courts of appeal and state supreme courts and before the U.S. International Trade Commission. During service as a member of the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Douglas presided over the largest antitrust trial in the history of the agency at that time.

Outside of work, Douglas loved to travel, both nationally and internationally. In his Navy days and subsequently, he visited every continent except Antarctica. He and Katherine twice drove with their young children across the country, seeing friends and family and learning more about the United States.

The White Mountains of New Hampshire were a key travel destination for Douglas. He first visited the area as a young boy attending camp and later as a homeowner, including a home he sketched out and designed himself. Douglas enjoyed watching the changing mountain weather and the area wildlife, including moose and black bears. Douglas and Katherine are members of the Appalachian Mountain Club's White Mountains 4000 Footers Club, having hiked all of the peaks 4,000 feet or higher in New Hampshire. They very much enjoyed hiking in the White Mountains with family and friends.

Douglas brought his intellectual curiosity and knowledge to countless activities and interests. Douglas had an encyclopedic knowledge of history, art, music and other fields. He was a good person to have on your team in Trivial Pursuit! He was a member of the Edgemoor Club, where he enjoyed playing tennis and swimming laps in the pool. He was an adept amateur pianist and also played bridge, chess, and a license plate game, trying to spot plates from all fifty states in a single month. He made this task extra difficult to accomplish by requiring that to be counted in the total, the new state had to be geographically contiguous to a state already counted - you have to know your geography! Douglas was an avid reader and participated in two book groups, including one which has been active for six decades. Douglas was a lifelong learner. He is loved and sorely missed by his family and friends.

A celebration of life will take place at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., followed by a reception in the church's Memorial Hall. The family will hold a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to do so to make a donation to the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation, 301 King George St., Annapolis, MD 21402, or to a charity of choice.