William (Bill) Riegel

Greenville, SC – William Charles Riegel (Bill) passed away on October 15, 2026, at 85 years old. Bill passed peacefully, surrounded by family in Greenville, SC. Born in Newport, VT, Bill was one of 9 children in a close-knit family. A lifelong educator, he rose from a Windsor math teacher to a highly decorated Principal of Waterbury Elementary School and Superintendent of the Washington West Supervisory Union. He was a visionary leader who helped to found The Children's Room in 1984, helped open Crossett Brook Middle School, and coached youth sports. He and his wife Jackie spent their retirement split between Fort Myers, FL, and his beloved Glover camp. During retirement, Bill achieved the rank of Bridge Life Master, traveled to all 50 states, Australia, and New Zealand, and passionately cheered for Duke and the Red Sox. He was a master storyteller who loved his family, walking, and twilight creamee rides. He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Jacqueline; his children, Melissa and David; his grandchildren, Abigail and Thomas; his great-granddaughter, Hunter; three sisters (Mary, Dee Dee and Nancy) and a large extended family. A joint committal service for Bill and Jackie will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Children's Room (https://www.childrensroomonline.org) or the Vermont Foundation of Recovery (vfor.org). To read his full life story or to share a memory, please visit: https://www.fortmyersmemorial.com/obituaries/william-riegel-5/obituary

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