Diana Riggs Genung Obituary

Woodbury resident, Taft School dorm parent

Diana Riggs Genung died peacefully Jan. 11, 2016, surrounded by her family, at the Parlin House Hospice Residence in Wayland, Mass., following a short and courageous battle with cancer.

Known from an early age as Dinny, she was born in Elmira, N.Y., in 1946, a daughter of Elizabeth Falck Riggs Hart and John S. Riggs. She graduated from Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Mass., and Beaver College in Glenside, Pa.

Dinny was recognized and deeply loved by her friends, her large family and those she touched for her kind, charitable and accepting nature. She was known for her integrity, modesty, selflessness, thoughtfulness and wonderful sense of humor. Always true to herself, Dinny was not easily swayed by the winds of faddish fashions. Her intellect, grace and style set her apart.

A member of the Woodbury, Conn., community since 1971, Dinny was known as a helpful and caring friend, confidant and mentor. During her long life she was a dormitory parent at The Taft School in Watertown, Conn.; a Head Start mentor; and a clinic volunteer with Planned Parenthood, including service on its Connecticut state board of directors. Dinny was a dedicated EMT volunteer with the Woodbury Ambulance Association for eight years and served as its president.

Her love of reading led her to clerk for a number of years at the well-known Hickory Stick Bookstore in Washington, Conn., recommending cherished books to customers and friends. Dinny was a competitive athlete in tennis and golf and a passionate and skilled bridge player. She loved the outdoors and spent part of each of her 69 years at a family camp at the Adirondack League Club on Little Moose Lake in Old Forge, N.Y.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Frederick M. Genung of Naples, Fla., and Old Forge, N.Y.; her son, Alexander M. Genung and his wife, Elizabeth (Lee) Carstensen Genung, of Stowe, Vt.; her daughter, Elizabeth (Kate) G. Taylor and her husband, Prescott B. Taylor, of Wellesley, Mass.; four grandchildren, Lucy and Chip Genung and Ellie and Caroline Taylor; her sister, Anne A. Good of Naples, Fla., and Old Forge, N.Y.; six nephews and nieces; and many loving cousins. She is predeceased by her parents, brother John S. Riggs Jr., and sister Elizabeth A. Riggs.

Interment will be private. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Naples Botanical Garden. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to the Naples Neighborhood Health Clinic (www.neighborhoodhealthclinic.org) or The Everglades Foundation (www.evergladesfoundation.org), both in Naples, Fla., or the Mission Boutique thrift store and food pantry in Old Forge, N.Y. (Niccolls Memorial Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 605, Old Forge, NY 13420)