Robert (Bob) P. Higgins, age 84 of Natick, departed this life on Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester. His wife of fifty-two years, Jean (Bishop) Higgins was by his side.
Born in Waltham on August 22, 1933, Bob was the son of the late William and Nanette (O’Hagan) Higgins. He graduated from Natick High School in 1951 and from Boston College in 1961.
Bob was a proud member of the United States Navy from 1957 to 1961 where he served on the U.S.S. Durant. Bob also served his country as a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, the U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., and working for Speaker of the House John McCormack during the Kennedy administration. After years working in the insurance industry and owning his own contracting business, Bob went to work for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the Office of Small Business Development. He finished his career working for the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Although born in Waltham, Bob was a proud resident of Natick for the majority of his life. When asked where he was from he would reply “the Home of Champions” and would fully expect people knew that he was referring to Natick. Bob contributed to the town’s moniker by being part of a Natick High School Championship football team and by winning awards for football and track, including the Alfred E. Hoey Memorial Trophy in 1951. Later in life Bob served on Natick’s Board of Registrars and was a town meeting member for six years.
Bob was a loving and loyal husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a fierce friend. He found pleasure in that most frustrating of pastimes – golf, and enjoyed watching his beloved Red Sox and Patriots. A man with two green thumbs, he loved his garden and took tremendous pride in the beautiful flowers and vegetables it produced, sharing the bounty with many. He had a quick wit, a hearty laugh, a twinkle in his eye and an easy smile.
However, his greatest joy in life was spending time with his family – his greatest achievement. In addition to his wife, Bob leaves behind his son Robert P. Higgins, Jr of Natick; his daughters Christine Duffy of Pelham, New Hampshire, and Kathleen Olson and her husband Hans of Natick; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Duffy of Austin, Texas, and Erik Olson and John Olson of Natick and his great-granddaughter, Reilly Barney of Austin, Texas. He is pre-deceased by his grandson Robert Duffy, Jr. Bob also leaves behind a large extended family consisting of brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects and celebrate Robert P. Higgins by joining his family for visiting hours at the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common on Friday, November 10th from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. and on Saturday, November 11th at 10:00 A.M. for a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick. Internment will follow at St. Patrick’s cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Robert P. Higgins may be made to Cops for Kids With Cancer.