Oct. 25, 2007 — Wayne Riggs, 56, a roving sailor who often made his home on St. Thomas, died Oct. 19 at a hospital in Puerto Rico after a brief illness.
Riggs was well known in Frenchtown where he had lived, on and off, for the best part of the past 20 years or so. He could be seen most any time of day walking with his live-in four-legged companion, Penny. He worked in the marine industry in the territory and in the waters of the Bahamas and Fort Lauderdale.
His son, Wayne Riggs Jr., flew down from his home in Hammond, Ind., where the elder Riggs was born.
"St. Thomas and his friends were my dad's home and his love," the son said. "Between the island and his friends, he was at peace. This is where he wanted to be. He was a jack of all trades. but he loved the sea."
Riggs was a regular at the late Betsy's Bar in Frenchtown, where he told sea stories with his pals — and Penny — at his side.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Honeymoon Beach on Water Island.
Riggs is survived by his son, Wayne, and special friends Anne Mahoney, Jill Anderson, Betsy Sheehan and many others, including the four-footed Penny and Spot.
