Richard M. Higgins

Waltham – Mr. Richard M. Higgins, of Waltham, died peacefully following a brief illness on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Saint Elizabeth's Hospital in Brighton with his loving wife Barbara at his side. He was 84.

Dick was born in Boston on September 10, 1933, a son of the late James and Mary (Coughlan) Higgins, and was raised in Mattapan. After graduating from Boston Trade School in Roxbury Dick joined the United States Navy where he served for three years aboard the destroyer USS Goodrich.

After he got out of the service he went to work for the Boston Globe and just shy of his thirtieth birthday joined the Boston Police Department where he served as a patrolman for the next twenty-two years. Dick spent most of his career at the District 4 station.

In retirement Dick enjoyed working as a starter at the George Wright Golf Course in Hyde Park. For the past thirty years Dick and Barbara spent their winters in Fort Myers, Florida where Dick went to work for the Boston Red Sox security department following their move from Winter Haven in 1993. When the new jetBlue Park at Fenway South opened in March of 2012 Dick had a front row seat to all the festivities.

He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Boston Police Post No. 1018 and the Fogg-Roberts American Legion Post No. 78 in Hyde Park.

Dick was the devoted husband of forty years to Barbara M. (Roche) Higgins; loving father of Diane Ripley and her husband, Steve, of Kingston and Susan Abaid of Falmouth; adored step-father of Mike Dennehy and his wife, Gail, of Waltham, Joe Dennehy and his wife, Leigh, of Pepperell, Cathy Gallagher and her husband, Terry, of Waltham and John Dennehy of Waltham; and a brother of Mary Morrissey of Falmouth, James Higgins of Hyde Park, Patricia Monahan of Scituate. He was also the proud grandfather of 16 and great-grandfather of 6 and leaves many nieces and nephews.

He was the step-father of the late Paula Dennehy and a brother of the late Francis Higgins.

Family and friends will honor and remember Dick's life by gathering for calling hours in the Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rt. 20), Waltham on Friday November 24th from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday morning when his funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorials in his name may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.