Sanders 2020
Related: About this forumSanders' daughter-in-law dies at 46 after cancer diagnosis
October 8 at 4:12 PM
The daughter-in-law of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has died, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Rainè Riggs was 46.
The Lee & Martin Funeral Home in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, says Riggs died Saturday, the day Sanders returned to Vermont after suffering a heart attack. Her obituary said she was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer.
Riggs, a neuropsychologist, was married to Levi Sanders, who ran unsuccessfully for a New Hampshire congressional seat in 2018. Riggs obituary says she met Levi Sanders while the two worked at an emergency food shelter in Vermont.
The obituary said Riggs was the director of behavioral medicine at Dartmouth Medical School for several years, and she started the Palliative Care Department for Dartmouth Medical Center. She also owned Riggs Geriatric Psychology in Windsor, Vermont.
Riggs and Sanders had three children.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-daughter-in-law-dies-at-46-after-cancer-diagnosis/2019/10/08/5850e5d0-ea07-11e9-a329-7378fbfa1b63_story.html
Donkees
(32,416 posts)Excerpt:
Rainè knew from the time she was a little girl that she was going to become something great and make the world a better place. She graduated valedictorian of her class from Burgettstown High School in 1990. Rainè then attended American University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. After American University, she attended Harvard University and Brown University, where she earned her master's degree in geriatric neuropsychology and clinical sleep medicine. During her time at Brown University, Rainè received an award from the National Institute of Health for her research study on the affects of chemotherapy on the brain. Finally, Rainè earned her doctorate in neuropsychology at the University of Vermont. Rainè was also the co-director of Behavioral Medicine at Dartmouth Medical School for several years. While there, she developed and started its Palliative Care Department for Dartmouth Medical Center.
Rainè, a truly selfless person, was always heavily involved in working with the homeless, especially homeless veterans. While working at an emergency food shelter in Vermont, she met and married her husband, Levi Sanders.
Rainè also spent time volunteering with pediatric hospice. Rainè was the owner of Riggs Geriatric Psychology in Windsor, Vt. She also volunteered at ground zero after the tragedies of 9/11, providing much needed counseling for survivors, first responders and the families of those who lost their lives.
Even with all of the achievements in education, Rainè always said her crowning achievement in life was the day she became a mother. Rainè Riggs was the proud Momma of Sunnee Riggs Sanders, Ryleigh Riggs Sanders and Grayson Riggs Sanders. From the first moment she held them in her arms, her entire world changed. Rainè's every thought was of her children. She truly strived to make every day of their lives special. Rainè loved to spend time picking berries with her family and then bringing them home and spending the whole day baking. She loved to take her children to festivals and always allowed her children to pick the weekend adventures. There was nothing she would not do for them. Rainè's favorite pastime was spending time at the beach, whether at the lake or the ocean. She made sure the summer was filled with little trips and never wasted a day. Rainè truly lived every day with her children as though it may be the last.
Rainè became ill three weeks ago. The hospitals were stumped. We brought her home last Sunday to UPMC, where she was diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer. She died two days later. Her last words were to tell her children how much she loved them and she was so sorry that she got sick.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/raine-riggs-obituary?pid=194098308