Rigas, John James b. 14 Nov 1924 Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA d. 30 Sep 2021 UPMC Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA: WETZEL Extended Family & More

Rigas, John James

1924 - 2021 (96 years)

Name	Rigas, John James [1]
Birth	14 Nov 1924	Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA [1, 2]
Gender	Male
Residence	Between 1925 and 1950	Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA [1]
Built	1952	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	The son of Greek immigrants, he started his cable business for $300 in 1952 and boldly transformed a shoestring operation in the north-central Pennsylvania town of Coudersport into a corporate juggernaut. He was heralded as an industry pioneer, having gambled on cable’s potential long before Comcast, AT&T and other big corporate players dominated the market.
	20240303GHLn- John rigas died Sept 30 2021 in Coudersport hospital. Tampa Bay Times, Sunday 17 Oct 2021 Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida • Sun, Oct 17, 2021 pA13 CLIPPED BY wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago • BY JIA LYNN YANG Washington Post John J. Rigas, who built Adelphia Communications into the country’s sixth-largest cable com- pany and whose 2007 jailing for stealing millions of dollars from the firm made him a prominent example of corporate fraud and excess, died Sept. 30 at a hospital in Coudersport, Pa. The death was confirmed by William Brennan of the Thomas E. Fickinger Funeral Home in Coudersport. The cause was not disclosed. Rigas, who at one time owned the Buffalo Sabres NHL hockey fran- chise, served nine years of a 15-year sentence - later reduced to 12 - for securities fraud, convicted of what the Securities and Exchange Com- mission called “one of the most extensive financial frauds ever to take place at a public company.” He was granted compassionate release from the Allenwood federal prison in Pennsylvania in 2016, when he was 91 and was said to have terminal cancer. It was a humiliating fall for Rigas. The son of Greek immigrants, he started his cable business for $300 in 1952 and boldly transformed a shoestring operation in the north-central Pennsylvania town of Coudersport into a corporate juggernaut. He was heralded as an industry pioneer, having gambled on cable’s potential long before Comcast, AT&T and other big corporate players dominated the market. Over time, he brought his three sons, Timothy, Michael and James, into the business and extended the company into New York, New Jersey, Florida and California. Rigas made his riskiest acquisition in 1999, paying $5.2 billion for Century Communications, the largest cable provider in Los Angeles at the time. The deal doubled the size of Adelphia overnight, and the com- pany boasted 5.6 million customers in 30 states. But within a few years, amid corporate scandals that engulfed such other firms as Enron and WorldCom, Adelphia collapsed after regulators began investigating shady accounting practices at the firm. John Rigas, 96 Cable television magnate went to prison for fraud John Rigas. United States Florida St. Petersburg Tampa Bay Times 2021 Oct 17 Page A13 John rigas died Sept 30 2021 in Coudersport hospital. Tampa Bay Times, Sunday 17 Oct 2021
Residence	Between 1952 and 1996	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [1]
Residence	1953	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [1, 3]
	Employer: Coudersport Theatre; Owner-manager Occupation: Owner-manager
Occupation2	Abt Nov 1957	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [4]
	among the directors of the Coudersport Corporation, groundbreaking for the Pure Carbon plant, rte. 6 East toward Sweden Valley, on the Norm Leete farm.
	20200923HAv- Lanny Nunn - Coudersport, Remember When... 2d · 21 Sept 2020 DIRECTORS OF COUDERSPORT CORPORATION l-r: - Dr. George Mosch, - John Carr, - Judge Walter Pierre Wells, - Harold B. VonNeida, - Edgar Brewer, - John Rigas, - Rodney Heymann, and - Harold Sonnekalb [Ground-breaking for Pure Carbon plant] Comments Teresa Genaux Margie Brown · Reply · 2d Steven J Heimel Pure Carbon's beginning. · Reply · 2d Karilyn Boucher Edgar Brewer is on the doiser · Reply · 17h Groundbreaking was held by the Coudersport Chamber of Commerce on the Norman Leete farm in November 1957. By January 1959, the 36,000 sq. ft. building was open for production, with a workforce of 63. At that time, Pure Carbon produced carbon brushes for electric motors and related products. As the product line evolved, expansions took place in 1967, 1972 and 1974, for a total of 120,000 sq. feet.
business	1959	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Coudersport Theater
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
EducationGraduation	Rensselaerville, Albany, New York, USA [3]
	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Endowed (LDS)	Abt 1961	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	_____________ 20181201HAv- Charles Cole $4,000,000 Cole Memorial Hospital 9 Jun 1961 Kane, Pennsylvania pamelavincent1 pamelavincent1 originally shared this on 09 Mar 2017 Linked To Charles Cole Saved by pamelavincent1 Saved by LARRY HERBSTRITT Comments Town Bequeathed $4,000,000 Legacy - Coudersport - H.H. Pett, president of the Potter County Memorial Hospital board at its annual meeting her, announced a legacy of $4,000,000 was bequeathed by the late Charles Cole, multi-millionaire Coudersport resident, for the construction and equipping of a modern hospital to serve Potter County. Any discussion of the new hospital is premature, Mr. Pett stated, because the Cole estate may not be settled for three or four years. Reactivated was the committee of: - Dr. George Mosch, - John Riggs (Rigas? -jcw), - Thomas Hessin, - Howard Glenn, and - James Ponder, named a year ago to investigate fund raising potentials and a site for a proposed new hospital building. Committee reactivated to investigate Funds & new site For New Hospital, after Charles Cole endowment.
		Cole, Chas news will for hospital anc_pamelavincent1 20181201HAv- Charles Cole Coudersport, Pennsylvania Area Man's Will Bequeaths Fund For New Hospital pamelavincent1 pamelavincent1 originally shared this on 07 May 2011 Linked To Charles Cole Saved by eyesec Saved by pamelavincent1 Saved by BuchananSpringer64 Saved by gilbertsonc1 Saved by EMyRus77 Saved by suereese999 Comments Area Man's Will…
		Cole, Chas $4,000,000 Cole Mem Hosp anc_pamelavincent1 20181201HAv- Charles Cole $4,000,000 Cole Memorial Hospital 9 Jun 1961 Kane, Pennsylvania pamelavincent1 pamelavincent1 originally shared this on 09 Mar 2017 Linked To Charles Cole Saved by pamelavincent1 Saved by LARRY HERBSTRITT Comments Town Bequeathed $4,000,000 Legacy - Coudersport - H.H. Pett, president of the Potter County Memorial…
Event	Abt Jul 1985	Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA [5]
	wedding- Tommy Mitchell and MaryBeth George
	20230122GHLn- Sue Mitchell July 28, 2022 · FB 1985: Everett Blass, Joe Wiltrout, Patsy Milliron and Bill Mitchell ???? Joni Blass Montroy - in Norristown, Pennsylvania. · · ???? ThrowBack Thursday, Summer of 1985 ???? 11 comments Julie Page Reply25w Nancy Lent Love these pictures ???? Reply25w Michele Sharp Great pictures!! Reply25w Jacqueline Haskins Austin Thanks for sharing- so many great folks Reply25w Victor L Howard Great photos! Reply25w Steph Shipton Love these!! Reply25w Patsy Milliron Thank you. Reply25w Rhoda Knowlton Lent Great pictures Reply25w Drusilla Pekarski nice Reply25w Karen Kaye Reply25w Becky Horvath _____________ 20230122GHLn- Sue Mitchell July 28, 2022 · FB 1985: Bill Mitchell (father of the groom) and MaryBeth George Mitchell - in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Comments
Name	John J. Rigas [2, 3]
Occupation	Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [6]
	owner of the Coudersport Theater
	20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the battlefield as soldiers in the Army of the Potomac. Volunteers from the Pennsylvania Wildcat region -- roughly bounded by today's McKean, Cameron, Potter and counties -- answered the call to serve in the Bucktails, under the leadership of General Thomas L. Kane. They were distinguished from other soldiers by the tail of a whitetailed deer attached to the back of their hats as a symbol of unity and a badge of marksmanship. Historian Murray Neeper says the deer tail served another important purpose. As the affiliations and assignments of the original volunteers changed, it is the one identifying characteristic that has stood the test of time. Today, because of that tail, historians and descendants have a fairly clear idea of what happened to most of the soldiers who left the mountains in 1861 to serve their Union and save their flag. Many Bucktails were heroes of the Civil War, Neeper points out, as the regiment played a critical role in important battle victories, including Gettysburg. He attributes their effectiveness to the leadership skills of General Kane, as well as the mental and physical toughness of the volunteers. Coudersport Glass still found today Potter County Water pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers, candy dishes and other examples of Coudersport Glass still surface from time to time at yard sales, flea markets, antique shops and estate sales. Some of the pieces are on display at the museum of the Potter County Historical Society in Coudersport. They're the results of a twist of fate when the paths of two international glassmaking legends intersected in Potter County. With an abundance of natural gas and rich sandstone and water resources, Coudersport seemed a natural location for glass manufacturing. Two members of the famous Webb family from England, brothers Joseph and H. Fitzroy Webb, opened a glass tile factory in the Mill Creek valley, just east of the business district in an area now referred to as Center Park. Webb Patent Tile Company began production in late 1900. The factory had a separate division, the Joseph Webb Decorative Glass Company. Potter CountyA distinctive pea vine, or endless vine, pattern was molded or painted onto many of the vases and dishes. With tile sales flat, the brothers focused entirely on glassware, which by then included paperweights and other novelty pieces. Sales did not meet the owners expectations and production ground to a halt in May 1901. Two years later, another knowledgeable glassmaker, Harry Bastow, reopened the Webb plant to produce an expanded line of ornamental glass. Among those arriving with Bastow were brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton. Frank Fenton managed the decorating department, long before the family name was associated with one of the world's most famous lines of glassware. Sales were encouraging and marketing was extended beyond Potter County's borders. On the night of Sunday, May 8, 1904, fire erupted near one of the cellar furnaces. Fanned by a strong southeasterly wind, the flames roared through the building. Underinsured and unable to raise the necessary capital to rebuild, Bastow and the Fentons left town, never to return. POTTER COUNTY'S MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT Potter County How did Eliot Ness end up in Potter County? Two decades after serving as a federal agent, part of a team charged with ridding Chicago of menacing crime figures epitomized by Al Capone, Ness was board chairman for Diebold, a leading manufacturer of safes, vaults and financial services equipment. He also partnered with Major General Claire Lee Chennault, of Flying Tigers fame, in the operation of an export/import company. By the time he arrived in Coudersport in 1956 with his wife and son, Ness was fighting what proved to be a losing battle as an officer of the North Ridge Industrial Corporation. North Ridge was an umbrella for two subsidiaries: Guaranty Paper Company and Fidelity Check. Ness was brought into the inner circle at North Ridge for whatever name recognition and connections he might lend to the endeavor. North Ridge moved from a plush Cleveland office complex to downtown Coudersport in 1956. Officers met with the local business community, seeking financial support for a production plant and an ambitious marketing plan. Why Coudersport? The answer is twofold. North Ridge, which was running in the red, needed a location where it could get a fresh start. Coudersport fit the bill with a large unskilled labor pool and a lower cost of living. Secondly, two of its officers had developed financial connections in Potter County through the natural gas and mining industries. North Ridge/Guaranty Paper advertised in leading financial publications, hoping to attract business for watermarked checks with an added innovation: an endorsement line on the front. This was hailed as a time-saver for bank tellers. The company also planned to print checks with pictorial backgrounds, forerunners of the vanity checks that would become so popular a couple of decades later. Many community leaders and investors from the Coudersport area purchased stock in North Ridge. Two local banks provided loans. However, orders for watermarked checks were few and far between. The company could scarcely meet its payroll obligations. Divisions among the company's executive management deepened and bankruptcy loomed. By that time, Eliot Ness was working with professional writer Oscar Fraley on a book that sensationalized his battles against the Capone outfit in Chicago. He was diagnosed by Coudersport physician Dr. George Mosch with a heart condition and advised to avoid stress. He was also prescribed a sedative. Fraley recognized the potential gold mine that Ness's exploits presented to an enterprising writer. He met with Ness on several occasions at the Hotel Crittenden to review scrapbooks and flesh out more details of the brewery raids and other enforcement actions. When Ness's memory failed him, Fraley filled in the blanks with his own vivid imagination for a book to be titled The Untouchables. The premise behind the title, originally coined by a Chicago newspaper editor, was legitimate. Ness had shown courage and determination in battling Al Capone's forces, refusing bribes and cutting into the crime outfit's economic lifeblood by raiding and destroying breweries. On May 16, 1957, Eliot Ness died of a heart attack in his Coudersport home. He was 53. Within weeks of his death, his widow and son moved back to Cleveland. Coudersport's two banks foreclosed on the loans, while the Internal Revenue Service stepped in, freezing the North Ridge's assets. Investors sued, but were unable to recover their losses. "The Untouchables" enjoyed modest success, but the book attracted the interest of television and movie producers who further distorted the story of Eliot Ness versus Al Capone to create a Hollywood legend. Ness's descendants sold their rights to Fraley for a modest sum and did not profit from the exploitation that made him a figure of international fame. Two theaters operate in Potter County Potter County Small-town movie theaters have, by and large, gone by the wayside. But there are two of them in Potter County. One of them is relatively new, established in a former church in the Borough of Galeton, overlooking Berger Lake. The second is a true survivor the Coudersport Theatre (coudersporttheatre.com). It was built in 1922-23 at a cost of about $25,000. It opened its doors on Jan. 16, 1923. The distinctive curtain (shown) was installed in 1928. It depicts the legendary Spanish knight Amadis de Gaula on the left, and Spanish dancers beneath the mystic blossoms of a tree on the right. The two sides portray contrasting dramatic and philosophical ideals that can be found in every culture in every generation. The theatre survived the flood of 1942 (see photo) and its screen and other equipment have been updated. Judy Bolton books born in Potter County Margaret Sutton Each October, the writings of Potter County author Margaret Sutton are celebrated during the annual Judy Bolton Days. Visitors tour sites in the county that were the basis for many adventures by the girl detective, Judy Bolton. Margaret SuttonSutton's book series has endured because of her ability to weave into the adventure stories elements of allegory, social commentary and other interesting twists. The books enjoyed national popularity and the lead character was a role model to countless young girls. Margaret Sutton (shown) was the pen name of Rachel Beebe, who was born in Potter County on Jan. 22, 1903, and died on June 21, 2001. More information is available at judybolton.com. Website Accessibility Potter County Pa. • Established 1804 • Open Records • Photo Credits • pottercountypa.net
Residence	Allegany County, New York, USA [1]
Death	30 Sep 2021	UPMC Cole Memorial Hospital, Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA [1, 2]
	Age: 96
Person ID	I62881	WETZEL-SPRING

Father	Rigas, Demetrios James, b. 15 Dec 1894, Greece d. 17 May 1981, Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA (Age 86 years)
Relationship	natural
Mother	Brazas, Helen, b. 25 Mar 1902, Greece d. 29 Dec 1993, Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA (Age 91 years)
Relationship	natural
Family ID	F56467	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Nielsen, Doris May, b. 25 Feb 1927, Penn Yan, Yates, New York, USA d. 10 Dec 2014, Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA (Age 87 years)

Marriage 1 Feb 1953 Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA [1, 3]

20240303GHLn-
Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Feb 5, 1953 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago

• THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1953 Miss Doris Nielsen Becomes Bride Of Theatre Owner
John Rigas Is Wed To Teacher in Double Ring Ceremony At St. John's Episcopal Church In Wellsville.
Easter lilies and white snapdragons formed a floral background for the candlelight, double-ring cere mony which united in marriage Miss Doris May Nielsen and John Rigas, local theatre owner, at 7:30 o clock Sunday evening in St. John's Episcopal Church, Wellsville.
Father George S. Joanethis of Jamestown and Father George Gallas of Rochester officiated at the Greek Orthodox Service.
Traditional wedding music was played by organist Gilbert Parker. Miss Janis Hughes of Batavia rendered "I Love Thee" by Grieg.
The bride Is the daughter of Mrs. Charlotte Nielsen of Penn Yan. Mr. Rigas is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rigas, of Wellsville.
Escorted by Clayton E. Rose of Albany, the bride wore a gown of white satin fashioned with a drap ed effect at the waist-line and bustle terminating in a satin train. Her fingertip veil of white illusion and Chantilly lace was caught to a Juliette cap of white satin trimmed pwith Chantilly lace and seed pearls. She carried a white prayer book covered with white orchids and ivy streamers.
Miss Jean Nielsen, Carthage, attended her sister as maid of honor. Her red Velveteen gown was designed with taut bodice cap of ivy completed her ensemble. She carried a bouquet of Easter lilies and ivy.
The Misses Catherine Grant of East Rochester, and Mary Rigas, sister of the groom, were bridesmaids. Their ensembles were fashioned similarly to that of the honor attendent and they carried bouquets of Easter lilies and ivy.
James Lucas of New York was best man. Ushers were Constatine Rigas brother of the groom. Burton Daily and James Raptis, all of Wellsville.
For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. Nielsen selected a navy frock and wore white gardenias.
Mrs. Rigas was attired in a dress of maroon velveteen. She also, wore a corsage of white gardenias.
A reception in tne fasseto notei followed the wedding ceremony. Among the 180 guests who attended were friends from Coudersport, New York, Rochester, Troy, Albany, Batavia, Penn Yan, Levittown and Bradford.
The Misses Alice Filkins and Bernice Roupp were assisting hostesses. The bride's table was centered with a four-tiered wedding cake topped with frosted wedding bells.
Mrs. Rigas is an alumna of Albany State Teachers' College and will continue as a member of the Wellsville Central School faculty. Mr. Rigas was graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy and is owner-manager of the Coudersport Theatre.
The couple will reside in Coudersport..

United States
Pennsylvania
Coudersport
The Potter Enterprise
1953
Feb
05
Page 1
Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville
Miss Doris Nielsen Becomes Bride Of Theatre Owner John Rigas Is Wed To Teacher in Double Ring Ceremony At St. John's Episcopal Church In Wellsville.

Children

	1. Rigas, E.
	2. Rigas, James [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	3. Rigas, Timothy [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]
	4. Rigas, Michael [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]

Family ID F56466 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Birth - 14 Nov 1924 - Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA
	Residence - Between 1925 and 1950 - Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA
	Built - The son of Greek immigrants, he started his cable business for $300 in 1952 and boldly transformed a shoestring operation in the north-central Pennsylvania town of Coudersport into a corporate juggernaut. He was heralded as an industry pioneer, having gambled on cable’s potential long before Comcast, AT&T and other big corporate players dominated the market. - 1952 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Residence - Between 1952 and 1996 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Residence - Employer: Coudersport Theatre; Owner-manager Occupation: Owner-manager - 1953 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Marriage - 1 Feb 1953 - Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA
	Occupation2 - among the directors of the Coudersport Corporation, groundbreaking for the Pure Carbon plant, rte. 6 East toward Sweden Valley, on the Norm Leete farm. - Abt Nov 1957 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	business - Coudersport Theater - 1959 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	EducationGraduation - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute - - Rensselaerville, Albany, New York, USA
	Endowed (LDS) - Abt 1961 - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Event - wedding- Tommy Mitchell and MaryBeth George - Abt Jul 1985 - Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA
	Occupation - owner of the Coudersport Theater - - Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
	Residence - - Allegany County, New York, USA

= Link to Google Earth

Photos » Slide Show		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Cole, Chas $4,000,000 Cole Mem Hosp anc_pamelavincent1 20181201HAv- Charles Cole $4,000,000 Cole Memorial Hospital 9 Jun 1961 Kane, Pennsylvania pamelavincent1 pamelavincent1 originally shared this on 09 Mar 2017 Linked To Charles Cole Saved by pamelavincent1 Saved by LARRY HERBSTRITT Comments Town Bequeathed $4,000,000 Legacy - Coudersport - H.H. Pett, president of the Potter County Memorial…
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Coudy Theater Curtain 1928 Amadis de Gaula 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
		Coudy TheaterFOTOTWO1942 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
		Rigas, John death News_20211017pA13TampaBayTimes 20240303GHLn- John rigas died Sept 30 2021 in Coudersport hospital. Tampa Bay Times, Sunday 17 Oct 2021 Tampa Bay Times St. Petersburg, Florida • Sun, Oct 17, 2021 pA13 CLIPPED BY wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago • BY JIA LYNN YANG Washington Post John J. Rigas, who built Adelphia Communications into the country’s sixth-largest cable com- pany…
		Rigas, John marries Doris Nielsen News_PottEnt19530205p1 20240303GHLn- Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville The Potter Enterprise Coudersport, Pennsylvania • Thu, Feb 5, 1953 p1 CLIPPED BY wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago • THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1953 Miss Doris Nielsen Becomes Bride Of Theatre Owner John Rigas Is Wed To Teacher in Double Ring…
		Rigas, John & Constantine anc_sandracleveland500 20240303GHLn- sandracleveland500 originally shared this on 10 Jul 2017 Constantine James & John James Rigas Linked to John James Rigas Saved by Miriam Howe Comments

Sources

[S2820] Public Member Trees 2024, Nielsen/Rigas Family Tree Miriam Howe / John James Rigas (58) facts 20240303GHLn- /cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=202101392609&indiv=try.
Public Member Trees 2024, Record for John James Rigas (58) facts
20240303GHLn-
Nielsen/Rigas Family Tree Miriam Howe
John James Rigas 1924–2021
BIRTH 14 NOV 1924 • Wellsville, Allegany, New York, USA
DEATH 30 SEP 2021 • Coudersport, Potter, Pennsylvania, USA
/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=202101392609&indiv=try
. https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=202101392609&indiv=try.

https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1030&h=202101392609&indiv=try

	Rigas, John & Constantine anc_sandracleveland500 20240303GHLn- sandracleveland500 originally shared this on 10 Jul 2017 Constantine James & John James Rigas Linked to John James Rigas Saved by Miriam Howe Comments
	N 20240303GHLn- sandracleveland500 originally shared this on 7 Jan 2015 Doris Neilson Rigas 7 Jan 2015 Linked to Doris Nielsen Saved by Rhonda Gebo Miriam Howe Comments

[S2282] Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1940-1955, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), Tampa Bay Times; Publication Date: 17 Oct 2021; Publication Place: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/774114134/?article=678a949d-ab5f-4c54-87e0-065f46da6797&focus=0.79433256,0.2714555,0.99105597,0.8317208&xid=3355.
Record for John J. Rigas (10) facts
20240303GHLn-
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=61843&h=1028959836&indiv=try

[S2507] Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2020;), The Potter Enterprise; Publication Date: 5/ Feb/ 1953; Publication Place: Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/284216785/?article=ac4ff793-5a8a-4e31-9737-bf5c539a7d73&focus=0.49509108,0.12571856,0.61341554,0.62004215&xid=3398.
Record for Mr. John Rigas (15) facts
20240303GHLn-
20240303GHLn-
Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Feb 5, 1953 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago

• THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1953 Miss Doris Nielsen Becomes Bride Of Theatre Owner
John Rigas Is Wed To Teacher in Double Ring Ceremony At St. John's Episcopal Church In Wellsville.
Easter lilies and white snapdragons formed a floral background for the candlelight, double-ring cere mony which united in marriage Miss Doris May Nielsen and John Rigas, local theatre owner, at 7:30 o clock Sunday evening in St. John's Episcopal Church, Wellsville.
Father George S. Joanethis of Jamestown and Father George Gallas of Rochester officiated at the Greek Orthodox Service.
Traditional wedding music was played by organist Gilbert Parker. Miss Janis Hughes of Batavia rendered "I Love Thee" by Grieg.
The bride Is the daughter of Mrs. Charlotte Nielsen of Penn Yan. Mr. Rigas is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rigas, of Wellsville.
Escorted by Clayton E. Rose of Albany, the bride wore a gown of white satin fashioned with a drap ed effect at the waist-line and bustle terminating in a satin train. Her fingertip veil of white illusion and Chantilly lace was caught to a Juliette cap of white satin trimmed pwith Chantilly lace and seed pearls. She carried a white prayer book covered with white orchids and ivy streamers.
Miss Jean Nielsen, Carthage, attended her sister as maid of honor. Her red Velveteen gown was designed with taut bodice cap of ivy completed her ensemble. She carried a bouquet of Easter lilies and ivy.
The Misses Catherine Grant of East Rochester, and Mary Rigas, sister of the groom, were bridesmaids. Their ensembles were fashioned similarly to that of the honor attendent and they carried bouquets of Easter lilies and ivy.
James Lucas of New York was best man. Ushers were Constatine Rigas brother of the groom. Burton Daily and James Raptis, all of Wellsville.
For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. Nielsen selected a navy frock and wore white gardenias.
Mrs. Rigas was attired in a dress of maroon velveteen. She also, wore a corsage of white gardenias.
A reception in tne fasseto notei followed the wedding ceremony. Among the 180 guests who attended were friends from Coudersport, New York, Rochester, Troy, Albany, Batavia, Penn Yan, Levittown and Bradford.
The Misses Alice Filkins and Bernice Roupp were assisting hostesses. The bride's table was centered with a four-tiered wedding cake topped with frosted wedding bells.
Mrs. Rigas is an alumna of Albany State Teachers' College and will continue as a member of the Wellsville Central School faculty. Mr. Rigas was graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy and is owner-manager of the Coudersport Theatre.
The couple will reside in Coudersport..

United States
Pennsylvania
Coudersport
The Potter Enterprise
1953
Feb
05
Page 1
Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville

Rigas, John marries Doris Nielsen News_PottEnt19530205p1
20240303GHLn-
Miss Doris Nielsen marries John Rigas, Theatre Owner at St John's Episcopal Church in Wellsville
The Potter Enterprise
Coudersport, Pennsylvania •
Thu, Feb 5, 1953 p1
CLIPPED BY
wetzupdoc • 56 seconds ago

• THURSDAY, FEB. 5, 1953 Miss Doris Nielsen Becomes Bride Of Theatre Owner
John Rigas Is Wed To Teacher in Double Ring…

[S1259] FaceBook- Coudersport, DIRECTORS OF COUDERSPORT CORPORATION, Ground-breaking for Pure Carbon plant, Lanny Nunn · 21 Sept 2020.
George C. Mosch, MD (1) fact
20200923HAv-
20200923HAv-
Lanny Nunn - Coudersport, Remember When...
2d · 21 Sept 2020

DIRECTORS OF COUDERSPORT CORPORATION
l-r:
- Dr. George Mosch,
- John Carr,
- Judge Walter Pierre Wells,
- Harold B. VonNeida,
- Edgar Brewer,
- John Rigas,
- Rodney Heymann, and
- Harold Sonnekalb

[Ground-breaking for Pure Carbon plant]

Comments
Teresa Genaux
Margie Brown
· Reply · 2d
Steven J Heimel
Pure Carbon's beginning.
· Reply · 2d
Karilyn Boucher
Edgar Brewer is on the doiser
· Reply · 17h
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20200923HAv- https://www.endeavornews.com/articles/morgan-amt-contract-ratified/
Morgan AM&T contract ratified
February 24, 2007

By a slender four-vote margin, unionized workers at the Morgan AM&T plant (formerly Pure Carbon Co.), east of Coudersport, ratified a new three-year labor agreement.

Vote on the pact was 111-107 in favor. More than 90 employees did not participate in the vote, which was held at the Coudersport Consistory on Saturday.

The thin margin of passage was traced to dissatisfaction with the requirement that employees pay a higher percentage of health insurance premiums, as well as some sentiment that per-hour pay increases were inadequate.

On the other hand, supporters were satisfied with the total package of wage increases, greater employer contributions to 401(k) retirement plans over the next three years, and other aspects of the labor agreement. It was hammered out between management and local representatives of the IUE-CWA, the industrial division of the Communication Workers of America.

Morgan AM&T is revising its production activities. Its traditional carbon product line is being phased out, while orders increase for manufacture of armor for military and private sector customers.

With the union contract now settled, the company is expected to more forward with an 18,000 sq. ft. addition.

The Coudersport plant is a valuable component of parent company Morgan Crucible’s operations. Morgan, based in England, has acquired Aceram, a Canadian company that’s a leader in armor technology, as part of its expansion into the body armor business.

The company’s history in Potter County dates back nearly 50 years. Groundbreaking was held by the Coudersport Chamber of Commerce on the Norman Leete farm in November 1957.

By January 1959, the 36,000 sq. ft. building was open for production, with a workforce of 63. At that time, Pure Carbon produced carbon brushes for electric motors and related products.

As the product line evolved, expansions took place in 1967, 1972 and 1974, for a total of 120,000 sq. feet.
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[S460] FaceBook-, (Location: www.facebook.com;), Tommy & MaryBeth George Mitchell wedding, summer 1985 in Norristown, PA.
Everette Blass et al at wedding in Norristown (1) fact
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20230122GHLn-
Sue Mitchell
July 28, 2022 · FB

1985: Everett Blass, Joe Wiltrout, Patsy Milliron and Bill Mitchell
???? Joni Blass Montroy
- in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
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???? ThrowBack Thursday, Summer of 1985 ????

11 comments
Julie Page
Reply25w
Nancy Lent
Love these pictures ????
Reply25w
Michele Sharp
Great pictures!!
Reply25w
Jacqueline Haskins Austin
Thanks for sharing- so many great folks
Reply25w
Victor L Howard
Great photos!
Reply25w
Steph Shipton
Love these!!
Reply25w
Patsy Milliron
Thank you.
Reply25w
Rhoda Knowlton Lent
Great pictures
Reply25w
Drusilla Pekarski
nice
Reply25w
Karen Kaye
Reply25w
Becky Horvath
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Sue Mitchell
July 28, 2022 · FB

1985: Bill Mitchell (father of the groom) and MaryBeth George Mitchell

- in Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Comments

Abt. Jul 1985 in Norristown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA; wedding- Tommy Mitchell and MaryBeth George

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	Mitchell, Bill w MaryBeth George Mitchell 1985 FB220728SueMitchell 20230122GHLn- Sue Mitchell July 28, 2022 · FB 1985: Bill Mitchell (father of the groom) and MaryBeth George Mitchell - in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Comments
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[S2561] PotterCountyPA.net, BuckTailed WildCats, Coudersport Glass, Eliot Ness, 2 Theaters in Coudersport, Judy Bolton books born in County.
Rachel Beebe (1) fact
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20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34

HISTORICAL NUGGETS
Bucktailed Wildcats
Potter County
Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the battlefield as soldiers in the Army of the Potomac.
Volunteers from the Pennsylvania Wildcat region -- roughly bounded by today's McKean, Cameron, Potter and counties -- answered the call to serve in the Bucktails, under the leadership of General Thomas L. Kane. They were distinguished from other soldiers by the tail of a whitetailed deer attached to the back of their hats as a symbol of unity and a badge of marksmanship.
Historian Murray Neeper says the deer tail served another important purpose. As the affiliations and assignments of the original volunteers changed, it is the one identifying characteristic that has stood the test of time. Today, because of that tail, historians and descendants have a fairly clear idea of what happened to most of the soldiers who left the mountains in 1861 to serve their Union and save their flag.
Many Bucktails were heroes of the Civil War, Neeper points out, as the regiment played a critical role in important battle victories, including Gettysburg. He attributes their effectiveness to the leadership skills of General Kane, as well as the mental and physical toughness of the volunteers.

Coudersport Glass still found today
Potter County
Water pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers, candy dishes and other examples of Coudersport Glass still surface from time to time at yard sales, flea markets, antique shops and estate sales. Some of the pieces are on display at the museum of the Potter County Historical Society in Coudersport.
They're the results of a twist of fate when the paths of two international glassmaking legends intersected in Potter County.
With an abundance of natural gas and rich sandstone and water resources, Coudersport seemed a natural location for glass manufacturing. Two members of the famous Webb family from England, brothers Joseph and H. Fitzroy Webb, opened a glass tile factory in the Mill Creek valley, just east of the business district in an area now referred to as Center Park.
Webb Patent Tile Company began production in late 1900. The factory had a separate division, the Joseph Webb Decorative Glass Company.
Potter CountyA distinctive pea vine, or endless vine, pattern was molded or painted onto many of the vases and dishes.
With tile sales flat, the brothers focused entirely on glassware, which by then included paperweights and other novelty pieces. Sales did not meet the owners expectations and production ground to a halt in May 1901.
Two years later, another knowledgeable glassmaker, Harry Bastow, reopened the Webb plant to produce an expanded line of ornamental glass. Among those arriving with Bastow were brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton.
Frank Fenton managed the decorating department, long before the family name was associated with one of the world's most famous lines of glassware. Sales were encouraging and marketing was extended beyond Potter County's borders.
On the night of Sunday, May 8, 1904, fire erupted near one of the cellar furnaces. Fanned by a strong southeasterly wind, the flames roared through the building.
Underinsured and unable to raise the necessary capital to rebuild, Bastow and the Fentons left town, never to return.

POTTER COUNTY'S MOST FAMOUS RESIDENT
Potter County
How did Eliot Ness end up in Potter County?
Two decades after serving as a federal agent, part of a team charged with ridding Chicago of menacing crime figures epitomized by Al Capone, Ness was board chairman for Diebold, a leading manufacturer of safes, vaults and financial services equipment. He also partnered with Major General Claire Lee Chennault, of Flying Tigers fame, in the operation of an export/import company.
By the time he arrived in Coudersport in 1956 with his wife and son, Ness was fighting what proved to be a losing battle as an officer of the North Ridge Industrial Corporation.
North Ridge was an umbrella for two subsidiaries: Guaranty Paper Company and Fidelity Check.
Ness was brought into the inner circle at North Ridge for whatever name recognition and connections he might lend to the endeavor.
North Ridge moved from a plush Cleveland office complex to downtown Coudersport in 1956. Officers met with the local business community, seeking financial support for a production plant and an ambitious marketing plan.

Why Coudersport?
The answer is twofold.
North Ridge, which was running in the red, needed a location where it could get a fresh start. Coudersport fit the bill with a large unskilled labor pool and a lower cost of living. Secondly, two of its officers had developed financial connections in Potter County through the natural gas and mining industries.
North Ridge/Guaranty Paper advertised in leading financial publications, hoping to attract business for watermarked checks with an added innovation: an endorsement line on the front. This was hailed as a time-saver for bank tellers. The company also planned to print checks with pictorial backgrounds, forerunners of the vanity checks that would become so popular a couple of decades later.
Many community leaders and investors from the Coudersport area purchased stock in North Ridge. Two local banks provided loans.
However, orders for watermarked checks were few and far between. The company could scarcely meet its payroll obligations. Divisions among the company's executive management deepened and bankruptcy loomed.
By that time, Eliot Ness was working with professional writer Oscar Fraley on a book that sensationalized his battles against the Capone outfit in Chicago. He was diagnosed by Coudersport physician Dr. George Mosch with a heart condition and advised to avoid stress. He was also prescribed a sedative.
Fraley recognized the potential gold mine that Ness's exploits presented to an enterprising writer. He met with Ness on several occasions at the Hotel Crittenden to review scrapbooks and flesh out more details of the brewery raids and other enforcement actions. When Ness's memory failed him, Fraley filled in the blanks with his own vivid imagination for a book to be titled The Untouchables.
The premise behind the title, originally coined by a Chicago newspaper editor, was legitimate. Ness had shown courage and determination in battling Al Capone's forces, refusing bribes and cutting into the crime outfit's economic lifeblood by raiding and destroying breweries.
On May 16, 1957, Eliot Ness died of a heart attack in his Coudersport home. He was 53. Within weeks of his death, his widow and son moved back to Cleveland.
Coudersport's two banks foreclosed on the loans, while the Internal Revenue Service stepped in, freezing the North Ridge's assets. Investors sued, but were unable to recover their losses.
"The Untouchables" enjoyed modest success, but the book attracted the interest of television and movie producers who further distorted the story of Eliot Ness versus Al Capone to create a Hollywood legend.
Ness's descendants sold their rights to Fraley for a modest sum and did not profit from the exploitation that made him a figure of international fame.

Two theaters operate in Potter County
Potter County
Small-town movie theaters have, by and large, gone by the wayside. But there are two of them in Potter County. One of them is relatively new, established in a former church in the Borough of Galeton, overlooking Berger Lake. The second is a true survivor the Coudersport Theatre (coudersporttheatre.com).
It was built in 1922-23 at a cost of about $25,000. It opened its doors on Jan. 16, 1923. The distinctive curtain (shown) was installed in 1928. It depicts the legendary Spanish knight Amadis de Gaula on the left, and Spanish dancers beneath the mystic blossoms of a tree on the right. The two sides portray contrasting dramatic and philosophical ideals that can be found in every culture in every generation.
The theatre survived the flood of 1942 (see photo) and its screen and other equipment have been updated.

Judy Bolton books born in Potter County
Margaret Sutton
Each October, the writings of Potter County author Margaret Sutton are celebrated during the annual Judy Bolton Days. Visitors tour sites in the county that were the basis for many adventures by the girl detective, Judy Bolton.
Margaret SuttonSutton's book series has endured because of her ability to weave into the adventure stories elements of allegory, social commentary and other interesting twists. The books enjoyed national popularity and the lead character was a role model to countless young girls.
Margaret Sutton (shown) was the pen name of Rachel Beebe, who was born in Potter County on Jan. 22, 1903, and died on June 21, 2001. More information is available at judybolton.com.

Website Accessibility

Potter County Pa. • Established 1804 • Open Records • Photo Credits • pottercountypa.net

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	Bebe, Rachel MargaretSutton PotterCountyPAnet 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
	Beebe, Rachel JudyBoltonSuttonBook MysteriousHalfCat 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
	Coudy Theater Curtain 1928 Amadis de Gaula 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
	Coudy TheaterFOTOTWO1942 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
	Ness, Eliot in Coudy 1956-57 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…
	Coudy Glass JosWebb Decorative coudglass01 20210821GHLn- 20190204HAv- http://www.pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 COUDERSPORT GLASS STILL FOUND TODAY Potter County Water pitchers, vases, salt and pepper shakers, candy dishes and other examples of Coudersport Glass still surface from time to time at yard sales, flea markets, antique shops and estate sales. Some of the pieces are on…
	Civil War bucktails01 20210821GHLn- https://pottercountypa.net/post.php?pid=34 HISTORICAL NUGGETS Bucktailed Wildcats Potter County Much has been written about the colorful 42nd Regiment, First Rifles of the Pennsylvania Reserves. They were sometimes referred to as the Bucktailed Wildcats. Their skill as marksmen and frontier background gave them an advantage on the…

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