HIGGINS, John J. (December 18, 1938 – March 23, 2025) of Andover, formerly of Wakefield, died after a brief illness. He was the son of the late Martin and Mary Higgins of Dorchester, MA.
John is the late husband of Judith (Rafferty) Higgins 'Judy' and the father of Mark and Kathy Higgins of Alexandria VA, Susan and John Bailey of Winthrop, MA and Sean and Barbie Higgins of Andover, MA. He was also the proud Papa of Declan, Finn, Charlie, Devon, Owen and Wesley. John is also survived by is brother Frank and his wife Ellen of Hingham, MA.
John was a graduate of Boston Latin (1957), Boston College (1966), Northeastern (Masters in Finance, 1967), US Army Language Schooled (Russian Language, 1959).
John served as a linguist in the US Army and later went on to work for many years in public accounting and later in the insurance industry. John also worked as the Director of Finance at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
John was committed to serving his community and volunteered on many boards including Center For Performing Arts (Wakefield, Treasurer), Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (Wakefield, Financial Council), Melrose-Wakefield Hospital (Trustee and Executive Committee), The Savings Bank (Corporator).
John was a devoted family man and his most beloved activity was to spend time with his grandchildren. He loved nothing more than attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and enjoyed catching up with other parents and grandparents along the way. With a new season about to kick off, his void will be felt and noticed by many. He was never shy about giving pep talks before a big game and was always there with encouraging words after a loss.
He will be sorely missed by his friends at Riverside Woods who gathered together to play cards twice a week over the past few years. He loved being around people and telling stories of his Dorchester days to anyone who would listen. Always ready with a joke to be told, John had his trademark humor right up until the end which will be a surprise to no one.
John's Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 198 Haggett's Pond Road, Andover on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at Noon. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Visitation will be held in the church, prior to the mass, from 10 to 11:45 a.m. Interment will be held in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to the Boston Latin School - www.bls.org/ Andover Senior Center Robb Center - Checks payable to Town of Andover (Elder Services) - Mailing address 30 Whittier Court, Andover, MA 01810.