Robert William Higgins, 81, died on March 25, 2025, at Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehab in Worcester, MA. Bob was born in Boston on August 6, 1943, to the late Eleanor Jacoby and John Higgins. He was raised by his mother and his stepfather, Stanley Fralick.
Bob was a 1961 graduate of Brockton High School and a 1965 graduate of the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). He earned an MBA from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio and studied hospital administration at the University of Kentucky. Robert had a long career in hospital administration, serving hospitals in Worcester, MA; Baltimore, MD; and Newark, NJ. He lectured at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. After retiring from the healthcare industry, he returned to his original career goal and taught U.S. history in Weymouth and Quincy public schools.
He leaves two sons, Michael Higgins of Worcester, MA, and Matthew Higgins and his wife Kandye of New Orleans, LA. He also leaves his sister and brother-in-law, Judith Higgins Donohue and Ralph Donohue of The Villages, Fl. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathleen Fralick of Abington, MA, and Lauren Fralick Holmes of Plymouth, MA, and by his former wife, Colleen McLaughlin Higgins. He is survived by literally dozens of Jacoby and Higgins cousins, by 14 nieces and nephews, and by a small circle of lifelong Brockton friends dating back to his elementary school days.
Bob had wide-ranging interests, including U.S. history and politics, watching the Red Sox and Patriots, and spending time on Cape Cod. He enjoyed travel, especially with his sons, who have wonderful memories of trips to Ireland and England. He had a passion for scouring antique shops and thrift stores and collected many treasures. He especially loved acquiring and “cleaning up” antique copper pieces. He enjoyed music of all kinds, starting from his singing with the renowned Brockton High School Galloneers. He was an enthusiastic supporter of Brockton High School’s music program and enjoyed attending BHS choral and instrumental concerts in recent years. He was an avid reader of the Boston Globe until his final days.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 10 am at Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street (Rte 123), Brockton, MA, followed by a funeral home service at 10:30 am.