Richard E. “Jerry” Riegel, Jr., of Montchanin, DE and Fishers Island, NY died peacefully August 11, 2013 due to complications associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Mr. Riegel was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1935, the oldest son of Edith du Pont of Wilmington and Richard Eveland Riegel of Philadelphia. His educational years included Tower Hill School, the Fessenden School, the Hun School, Columbia University and the University of Delaware.A highly recognized and respected automotive connoisseur and historian, Jerry was an inveterate and astute collector of automobiles and automobilia since his youth. His most important cars included an Isotta-Fraschini, a Bébé Peugeot, a 1914 Benz, and the André Dubonnet Hispano-Suiza tulipwood boat tail speedster, among others. His premiere collection was comprised of several duPont Motors automobiles. His 1931 duPont Model H dual-cowl phaeton won every AACA and CCCA prize available, Best of Show awards at Amelia Island, Meadow Brook and Greenwich, culminating in First in Class and Most Elegant Open Car at Pebble Beach in 2005. His remarkable collection of printed material and automotive literature is now part of the RM Restoration Research Library. He was also associated with Penske Racing for more than 25 years from its early Ferrari programs through several Indianapolis 500 and season-championship campaigns.
In addition to his wife Barbara of 48 years, he is survived by daughters Laura C. Riegel of Aspen, CO; Ashley R. Harrington and her husband Edward A. Harrington of Bedford, NY, and their three children George S. “Jake”, Natalie C., and Elizabeth F. “Elsie” Harrington; son Richard E. Riegel III and his wife Amanda of Bedford Hills, NY and their two children, Richard E. IV and Amelia P. Riegel; and Alexandrine Riegel Mellon of West Palm Beach, FL. In addition, he is survived by his brother John E. Riegel and his wife Deborah and their children and grandchildren; his sisters Edith Riegel Miller and her husband Michael of Bethesda, MD and their children and grandchildren; Natalie Riegel Weymouth and her husband Philip B. Weymouth, Jr. of Montchanin, DE and their children and grandchildren; and Esther Riegel Wright and her husband David of Ocala, FL.
In recognition of Jerry and in support of Alzheimer’s research and care, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Swank Memory Care Center at Christiana Care Health System, 205 W. 14th St., Suite 100A, Wilmington, DE 19801, which the Riegel family helped found with the assistance of Dr. Constantine Lyketsos, Chair of Johns Hopkins Neuro/Psychiatry Department. Contributions may also be made to the Henry L. Ferguson Museum, PO Box 554, Fishers Island, NY 06390 for their new Nautical Research Library.
A small, private memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, August 15 at the duPont Chapel on Buck Road in Greenville, DE.
