August 1, 1949- August 4, 2025
Daniel C. Rigney, PhD., loving husband, devoted father, and brilliant intellectual, died in his home August 4th, 2025. Through his teaching, writing, and spirited conversation, Dan passed on his vast knowledge, generous laughter, and many insights to all who knew him.
Born in Evanston, Illinois to Carl Jennings Rigney and Margaret Roth Rigney, Dan grew up in Beaumont, Texas. He studied sociology at the University of Texas at Austin (Plan II Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1971; PhD, 1975). He began his career at the University of Texas at San Antonio (1975-1981) then joined the faculty at St. Mary’s University (1981-2010), where he served as Assistant to the President, taught in the Sociology Department, and led the Honors Program for twenty-three years. The gifted students he mentored went on to medical school, law school, graduate programs and a range of careers.
A self-described “free-range writer,” Dan published articles, blog posts, and two books. The Metaphorical Society: An Invitation to Social Theory introduces students and general readers to the ideas of influential social theorists by organizing them according to the metaphors they used. In The Matthew Effect: How Advantage Begets Further Advantage, its title taken from the sociological effect of compounding advantage named for the Parable of the Talents in the Book of Matthew, he demonstrates how Matthew Effects often lead to social inequality. However, he concludes that with sufficient moral and political will, people can create social systems that countervail against that tendency.
Dan received from his devout parents a grounding in Christianity that centered justice and works for the least of these, but his own approach to spirituality was syncretic: in his words, “I’ll take my wisdom wherever I can get it.” He found his church home in Unitarian Universalism. Towards the end of his life, he approached death with curiosity.
He is predeceased by his parents and by his brother Martin Taylor Rigney; and is survived by his wife, Alida Christine Metcalf of Houston; their two children Rachel (née Matthew) Metcalf Rigney and Benjamin Metcalf Rigney of New York, and their respective spouses; three brothers, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He will be missed by friends, colleagues, and students whose lives and minds he touched on what he called “the passing parade of life.”
Flowers can be ordered from Cutting Garden: (713) 465-9145
Memorial service is at Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, September 27th at 11 a.m. You can also join the live service by visiting this link: https://emersonhouston.org/drigney/
