Rodney Kirk Riggs

Rodney Kirk Riggs passed away on October 29th, 2023, following cardiac arrest in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Kirk was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on April 11th, 1958, to Roger Kent Riggs and Sandra Marlene Leaseburg Riggs, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his longtime love and partner, Christine Cervenka of Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, his sister, Lynne Riggs Anderson and husband Stuart Booth, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and his nephews Tosh Anderson, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ian Anderson and Riggs Anderson of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and his niece and her husband, Grace Anderson Freyer and Michael Freyer of Boston, Massachusetts. “Uncle Kirk” was iconic and adored by his family.

Kirk grew up in Owensboro, Kentucky, graduating from Owensboro High School in 1976, where he played football and golf. He graduated with a BA in Business from the University of Kentucky and was a life-long and avid UK Wildcats fan. Kirk had recently retired from a long career in advertising communications and media sales for leading national and international art publications. His career afforded him years of traveling and visiting art galleries around the world.

Kirk lived a large and full life. He enjoyed the adventure of travel and deep-sea fishing, the adrenaline-rush of downhill skiing the Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as numerous other big mountains across the Rockies and the Alps in Europe. Kirk also loved the challenge of golf and always marveled at the beauty of nature. Mao and Stinkers are his beloved cats, who he rescued and devotedly cared for.

Kirk was a high-intensity extrovert. He thrived on personal connections, telling his stories, making new ones and kept many friends from his school years in Kentucky and the many places he lived including Hilton Head Island, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. One of the many stories he told was that an associate described him as “Braunschweiger – you either love it or hate it.” Kirk took great pleasure and ownership in that description. Those who loved him knew his sense of humor, hearty laugh, genuine smile and his tender, generous heart. “Uncle Kirk” never forgot a birthday.

Kirk was an excellent cook and took great pleasure in feeding his friends and family. He loved sports – especially football - hunting, the mountains, music, the University of Kentucky, John Lennon, anything Beatles and Kobe Bryant.

A celebration of life is in order, and will be held Saturday, November 25th on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Donations in his memory can be made to the Jimmy V Foundation.

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