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Robert Jordan 1948 - 2007

James Oliver Rigney Jr of Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina was born on October 17, 1948 in Charleston, and died at age 58 years old on September 16, 2007 in Charleston. James Rigney was buried on September 19, 2007 at St. James Church 100 Vestry Ln, in Goose Creek, Berkeley County.

James Oliver Rigney Jr
Robert Jordan
Name
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Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina 29401
Last residence
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October 17, 1948
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Birth
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September 16, 2007
Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
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Updated: July 13, 2023
Biography ID: 39642074 What's this
Robert Jordan James Rigney (1948 - 2007)
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James Oliver Rigney Jr's History: 1948 - 2007

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  • Introduction

    James Oliver Rigney Jr., better known by his pen name Robert Jordan, was born to James Oliver Rigney (1920-1988) and Eva Mae (Grooms) Rigney (1916-1995) and had a brother Theodore Smith Rigney. James was married to Harriet Popham McDougal Rigney (born 1939) who was also his editor on the world famous high fantasy series The Wheel of Time.
  • 10/17
    1948

    Birthday

    October 17, 1948
    Birthdate
    Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina United States
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    His father James was born in South Carolina, and so was his mother Eva and her parents.

  • Nationality & Locations

    Born, raised and spent his life in Charlestown South Carolina. Of course he travelled a lot for book tours particularly as the Wheel of Time series gained in popularity.

  • Early Life & Education

    He attended Clemson University for one year immediately after high school, but then enlisted in the U.S. Army during Vietnam. After returning from Vietnam in 1970, Jordan studied physics at The Citadel where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974.

  • Religious Beliefs

    James was recorded as saying that he was a "High Church" Episcopalian.

  • Military Service

    James served two tours of duty during the Vietnam War in the U.S. Army. He arrived to the 68th Assault Helicopter Company in February 1969 as a helicopter Top Tiger Gunner, and then served in Saigon as a clerk until discharge in August 1970. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, the Bronze Star with "V" and oak leaf cluster, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with palm. In 1974 he began working for the U.S. Navy as a nuclear engineer.

  • Professional Career

    James is better known by his pen name "Robert Jordan" and as the creator of the 14 book series Wheel of Time. He also wrote a number of Conan the Barbarian books. Before he began writing he served in the military and was a nuclear engineer.

  • Personal Life & Family

    A rather intellectual individual, James was a history buff and enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, poker, chess, pool, and pipe-collecting. He and his wife, Harriet McDougal, worked together. She was James' editor and an editor at Tor Books - the publishing company of the Wheel of Time series.
  • 09/16
    2007

    Death

    September 16, 2007
    Death date
    cardiac amyloidosis
    Cause of death
    Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina United States
    Death location
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  • 09/19
    2007

    Gravesite & Burial

    September 19, 2007
    Funeral date
    St. James Church 100 Vestry Ln, in Goose Creek, Berkeley County, South Carolina 29445, United States
    Burial location

  • Obituary

    Written by Bill Thompson on September 16th 2007 and published in The Post and Courier: Robert Jordan dies at age 58 Charleston novelist James Oliver Rigney Jr., 58, known to millions of readers by the pen name Robert Jordan, the best-selling author of “The Wheel of Time” fantasy series, died Sunday after a fight with the rare blood disease amyloidosis, a progressive disorder first diagnosed in December 2005 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Rigney, who also wrote novels under the nom de plume Reagan O’Neal, succumbed to complications from primary amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. In an open letter to the science fiction magazine Locus in April of 2006, Rigney said he had been diagnosed with a disorder that affects only eight people out of one million each year. The most popular fantasy author since J.R.R. Tolkien, Rigney was born in 1948 in Charleston. A graduate of The Citadel who earned a degree in physics, he served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, winning a Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry. A lifelong history buff and voracious reader, he also wrote dance and theater criticism. He had been writing full time since 1977. His “Wheel of Time” series was among the best-selling in the history of fantasy publishing, with thousands of Web sites devoted in whole or in part to his writing. He also wrote many of the popular “Conan the Barbarian” books, picking up from series creator Robert E. Howard. A note published on his blog, www.dragonmount.com, announcing his death continued to fill up with comments from fans from across the globe Sunday night as word spread. At the time of his death, Rigney was one of the leading lights of the Lowcountry literary community. Along with outdoor activities, he liked playing poker and chess and collecting hats and pipes. He is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney. Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.
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8 Memories, Stories & Photos about James

Robert Jordan
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.2k+ favorites
07/13/2023
Robert Jordan
Author Robert Jordan.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Wheel of Time Author
Daniel Pinna
785 favorites
06/30/2023
Wheel of Time Author
My favorite author Robert Jordan who dreamed and wrote the best (in my opinion) fantasy series The Wheel of Time.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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James Oliver Rigney Jr.
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.2k+ favorites
02/02/2023
James Oliver Rigney Jr.
James Oliver Rigney Jr., best known as Robert Jordan. Photo taken by Beth Gwinn in 2000.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Robert Jordan's wide-brimmed black hat
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.2k+ favorites
12/16/2022
Robert Jordan's wide-brimmed black hat
If memory serves, I believe this hat which he frequently wore was the inspiration of Mat Cauthon's signature wide-brimmed black hat that he wore in the books.
Date & Place: in South Carolina United States
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The Eye of the World
Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.2k+ favorites
12/13/2022
The Eye of the World
The Eye of the World released on January 15th, 1990 (four days after my birthday) was the first book in the Wheel of Time series written by my favorite author - Robert Jordan.

This book will forever hold a special place in my life. I've read it enough times... ;)
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
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Photo of Daniel Pinna Daniel Pinna
10.2k+ favorites
12/13/2022
Quotes
Some of my favorite quotes from his books:

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again.”

“Duty is heavy as a mountain, death is light as a feather.”

“In wars, boy, fools kill other fools for foolish causes”

“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent when it must and survived.” - reminiscent of Frank Herbert's Dune "I shall bend like the reed in the wind."

“Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can.”

“We rode on the winds of the rising storm,
We ran to the sounds of the thunder.
We danced among the lightning bolts,
and tore the world asunder.”

“I doubt you can understand the magnitude of the stupidity in your statement”
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James Rigney's Family Tree & Friends

James Rigney's Family Tree

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Robert Jordan
Robert Jordan Oct 17, 1948 - Sep 16, 2007
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James' Friends

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Other Biographies

Other James Rigney Biographies

Rigney, James (Sep 24, 1929 - May 9, 2005) Rigney, James (Feb 20, 1914 - Feb 14, 1969) Rigney, James (Jul 11, 1907 - Sep 5, 1953) Rigney, James (Born c. 1974) Rigney, James (Born c. 1927) Rigney, James (Born c. 1974) Rigney, James (Apr 3, 1939 - Feb 12, 1995) Rigney, James (Jan 10, 1886 - May 1967) Rigney, James (Oct 2, 1926 - Jun 1985) Rigney, James (Aug 22, 1904 - Mar 1973)
Rigney, James (Jul 13, 1926 - Mar 11, 2003) Rigney, James (Nov 22, 1921 - Aug 24, 1990) Rigney, James (Sep 1, 1914 - Jan 1971) Rigney, James (Jan 8, 1905 - Sep 1971) Rigney, James (Mar 15, 1937 - Jan 6, 1996) Rigney, James (May 3, 1907 - Mar 18, 1995) Rigney, James (Jun 13, 1938 - Nov 19, 2001) Rigney, James (Aug 12, 1908 - Jun 1981) Rigney, James (Oct 3, 1935 - Jan 29, 1990) Rigney, James (May 16, 1930 - Jun 28, 1999)

Other Rigney Family Biographies

Rigney, Peter (May 7, 1887 - Jun 1966) Rigney, Grace (Aug 22, 1894 - Nov 1973) Rigney, Tammy (Jul 6, 1977 - Mar 24, 2011) Rigney, Charles (Dec 17, 1913 - Oct 15, 1999) Rigney, Edward (May 3, 1917 - Dec 5, 1988) Rigney, Margaret (Jul 27, 1900 - Mar 1976) Rigney, Rita (Mar 13, 1922 - Dec 1993) Rigney, Edward (Aug 23, 1918 - Nov 1977) Rigney, James (Jan 15, 1919 - Jun 28, 1999) Rigney, Edward (Sep 13, 1902 - Aug 1972)
Rigney, Christine (Dec 25, 1913 - Feb 18, 2001) Rigney, William (May 30, 1882 - Feb 1966) Rigney, Catherine (Oct 3, 1891 - Dec 1974) Rigney, Kathleen (Jun 7, 1947 - Jul 28, 1999) Rigney, Dorothy (Oct 10, 1918 - Dec 1, 1990) Rigney, Janet (Sep 26, 1920 - Mar 18, 2007) Rigney, Brenda (Aug 19, 1939 - Jan 10, 2010) Rigney, Richard (Jun 4, 1947 - Oct 3, 2004) Rigney, Joseph (Mar 22, 1919 - Nov 1982) Rigney, Edward (Nov 9, 1915 - Apr 13, 1998)
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