In loving memory of
Alice McIntosh Rigdon

• January 02, 1944
• -
• February 02, 2023

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On February 2, 2023, Alice McIntosh Rigdon passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded by loved ones in Port Orange, FL. Alice faced multiple health issues over the last few years but never lost her wit and sharp mind.

While Port Orange was her final destination, Alice lived a well-traveled life in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Purcellville, VA and Brussels, Belgium. She graduated from the University of Illinois and joined the Customs Service (now Homeland Security) in 1971 as an entry level inspector after briefly serving with the Peace Corps. Alice’s many talents including her strong intellect, great people skills, sense of humor and her ability to “get the big picture” earned her positions of great responsibility within Customs at a time when few opportunities for women existed. In 1983, she became the Customs District Director of Los Angeles. She was the first woman selected for such a major Customs position. Los Angeles was second only to the New York district in collections of duties and taxes at the time. In 1987, she was nominated and selected to fill the Customs Attaché’ position of the Customs Cooperation Council in Brussels, Belgium until 1990. In 1990, she was appointed to the Director, Technique of the Work Customs Organization until 1995 where she developed numerous Customs Trade Programs in the 144-member nation body. She worked in over 70 countries, including Russia, Cuba and China. In 1996, she was selected as the Port Director for San Francisco and served in that position until her retirement in 2002.

Alice loved to travel, especially France, where she had a second home. She was fluent in French and Spanish, loved all British mystery series, the opera, the cello, and loved driving on the beach with her favorite DD coffee and donut.

Alice is survived by her brother Craig McIntosh, her nieces Kyleigh Guy and Christie Svirsky and her extended (autre) family of Julie, Joe & Jake Seraphin and her extended family of dedicated and loving care-givers.

There will be a small memorial service Saturday, April 15, 2023 for friends and family in Ormond Beach, FL. Contact Julie at julieseraphin@gmail.com for additional details.