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Diana Rigg '54
by Debra Mayers Hollander
At age 71, Diana Rigg '54 is happier in her own skin than she has ever been before. Settled in the beautiful mid-coast Maine town of Camden for the past 15 years, she's found contentment and proximity to family. Her sisters, Alexandra Rigg Samaras '53 and Margaret Rigg Atwood '60, and brother Jonathan, all live in Maine – "a good thing" as Martha Stewart would say. Life is not without its sadness she reflects, noting the recent passing of her mother, but for the most part she is pleased with where life has taken her.
"We all take different paths, some we choose and some we don't," remarks Diana. "I'm the happiest now that I've ever been in my life."
Diana's life path has been one of transitions, taking her from her solid beginnings at Hathaway Brown to college at Radcliffe, graduate work at the University of Madrid and Western Reserve University. She was a legal secretary, a French teacher at a private girls' school in Englewood, New Jersey and then held a staff position in employee relations at Exxon headquarters in New York. After moving to Maine she volunteered at Bay Chamber Concerts, and then joined the staff as coordinator of a summer music program that brought up to 85 young musicians for two weeks of study and performance.
Now retired and enjoying volunteer life, Diana is looking forward to traveling. Next summer, she will tour Serbia and Greece as part of the Down East Singers, a local Camden choir of about 65 volunteer singers who present annual winter and spring concerts and who have toured many times throughout New England, and even to California. Music has always been a fulfilling part of her life as she enjoys playing the piano and violin in addition to singing, interests she began cultivating at Hathaway Brown.
A self-described "political junkie and raging feminist," Diana is passionate about her volunteer interests and small philanthropic endeavors including environmental issues, women's rights and humanitarian aid. She is an active community volunteer.
Looking back on her education at Hathaway Brown, Diana continues to feel strongly about the importance of single-sex education for girls. "The education of girls is more important than ever now," she explains. "Hathaway Brown allows girls to reach their highest potential without worrying about boy-girl things that could distract from learning. I am incredibly impressed with what is offered today to HB students."
Her belief in the importance of education is one of the reasons Diana felt it was important to include Hathaway Brown in her estate plan. In including HB in her estate plan, Diana became a member of the Mary E. Raymond Legacy Society, a recognition society that honors those who have made endowment gifts to the School or who have included Hathaway Brown in their estate plans.
"I've thought for many years that those of us who are blessed and have (the resources) should pass it along in a meaningful way. I especially like the idea of an endowment, because an endowment is forever," Rigg says."I have noted that my class of '54 has only one member of the Raymond Society – me! – and I hope others will think of ‘returning the favor' of the great education we got so that it will continue to be available to others."
To learn more about how you can include Hathaway Brown in your estate plan, become a member of the Mary E. Raymond Legacy Society or other ways to support Hathaway Brown, please contact Mary Rainsberger, Director of Gift Planning, at 216.320.8115.
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Girls K-12/Coed Early Childhood 
