Glenn J. Riggs (Pal), 71, passed away Friday, November 7, 2025, at Oceanside Care Center on Tybee Island.  Pal was born in the Naval Hospital at Somerset, Massachusetts on August 1, 1954, to Albene and Robert Riggs, who was serving in the U.S. Navy at the time. He had two siblings, both who are deceased, as well as both parents.

He resided in Utica, New York as a young adult for a few years and migrated south to Tybee Island for reasons he cannot recall (direct quote). In 1980 when Jack and Belinda Flanigan purchased Chimney Creek Fishing Camp, Jack needed a helper at what was just a fishing camp at the time, and found Glenn riding a bike along Highway 80, offered him a job, and the rest is history!

From then until very recently, he worked and lived at Chimney Creek Fishing Camp which is now The Crab Shack. He was known for his grumpy yet comical demeanor by all who bought live shrimp back in the day, and asked for a quart of oil, or needed their boats put in or out at the hoist. He NEVER used names but ordered customers around with “Pal” ….  How could you be angry or upset with someone chastising you to “hurry up, I ain’t got all day, Pal” …..“Pal” was his tag line so often used that he soon became known to EVERYONE on Tybee who met him as “Pal”. Few knew his actual name was Glenn Riggs.

He lived a simple life, happy as a hermit crab (which is his spirit animal) on the Crab Shack property. Even after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, he continued to live alone until it became necessary to have assistance. He then moved to Oceanside Care Center under Hospice care. When he was asked what people could bring that he would like, his answer was “I like chocolate”. Tybeeians kept the halls of Oceanside busy with visits to Pal; even taking him a wheelchair for a stroll outside and provided lots of chocolate! He was much loved on Tybee Island and will be remembered by all how knew him.

A gathering of friends to celebrate his life will be 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at The Crab Shack on Tybee Island.