Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Rigatti

By Greta Engel

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiatives, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work, however, would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our volunteers. In this series of profiles, we meet some of the people who give their time to make Phipps possible.

Volunteer Michael Rigatti was drawn to Phipps after frequent visits with his family, who consider the Conservatory to be one of their favorite places to visit together. After researching and discovering the Master Gardener Program, Michael signed up right before the Pandemic and then restarted the following year. He has been volunteering at Phipps since 2022 and has “enjoyed every moment of working with a very enthusiastic group of both volunteers and employees.”

An avid gardener and founder of a garden club in the 60’s, Michael’s mom inspired his own love of plants. She introduced Michael to cacti, which he is very passionate about growing and collecting. He even cares for some that are over 50 years old! Michael has been married for 43 years and has two children who share his love of nature, as both of their homes are filled with plants too.

Michael frequently spends his volunteer hours as Dr. Phipps, a free service to help answer any gardening questions guests may have! This is his favorite part of volunteering because he enjoys interacting with the local community and sharing the knowledge he has accumulated through the Master Gardener program. When reflecting on his volunteer work, Michael says, “In my experience as Dr. Phipps, I have to say that the people that visit Phipps from all over the country are a very enthusiastic group and love the Conservatory. I always ask what they think of the shows and always get a thumbs up.” He notes that all the kids who visit tend to love coming to Phipps!

Aside from spending time as Dr. Phipps, Michael has also spent time volunteering in Botany Hall Kitchen. Once a week, he visits the Greenhouse located in Phipps Garden Center to take care of the plants. He even keeps some of his beloved cactus collection there! He has had a wonderful time working with Volunteer Coordinator Deb Knorr among various other fabulous members of Phipps staff.

Michael is proud to be a fourth generation Pittsburgher! He spent many years working for GE Medical Systems and Philips Healthcare but has since retired and enjoys a wide variety of hobbies. When the weather is nice, Michael spends time riding his motorcycle or working in his garden and fending off deer. He also loves biking on local trails and is planning a trip to the PA Grand Canyon to bike the Pine Creek Trail. However, his favorite hobby is taking care of his cactus collection. Since they are not easy to grow in Western PA, the cacti require a lot of tending and frequent moving. We are lucky to have such a passionate and knowledgeable volunteer like Michael!