Rigdon Leeds Reese

Rigdon Leeds Reese, 71, of Portsmouth, RI died on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at home. Rigdon was born January 1, 1945 in New York, NY, the son of the late Dr. Algernon Beverly Reese MD and Joan (Leeds) Reese.Rigdon Reese grew up in New York City, graduated from the Buckley School, Choate School, and then received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967. He continued on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Cornell and was admitted to the New York Bar in 1971. His career brought him to several beautiful locations across America. He was a longtime business partner with his brother Algernon in the Cement Creek Ranch in Crested Butte, CO from 1970-1991. He actively worked by his brothers side in Colorado for many years, before the ocean called and he began a long career in yacht sales. He was a broker with Hinckley Yachts in Southwest Harbor, Maine for many years. He then arrived in Newport opened the first US office for Oyster Yachts. He was a longtime member of the Causeway Club in Maine, and the Newport Tennis Club. Rig was an avid sailor and golfer, and always had enough charm and wit to fill the room. He was also a talented artist, both in visual arts as well as music.He is survived by his wife Genevieve Bessinger of Portsmouth, two daughters Remington Reese Sweeney and her husband Mike of Portsmouth, RI, Dylan Brook Reese of Newport, RI. He also leaves two brothers: Algernon Beverly Reese III of New York, NY, and Jonathan Wadsworth Reese of New Milford, PA, and five grandchildren, Luke, Shepard, and Rigdon Sweeney, Bryson Maddox, and Cole Reese.A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 24 from 2:00-4:00pm at OceanCliff, 65 Ridge Road, Newport, RI.Memorial donations may be made to Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840. Service APR 24. 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM OceanCliff 65 Ridge Road Newport, RI, US, 02840