Henry A. Higgott

READING — Henry A. Higgott, of Reading and South Yarmouth, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008, surrounded by family.

He was the beloved husband of Eleanor/Lynne (Kittell) Higgott, to whom he was married 51 years. He was the devoted father of Edward Higgott and his wife, Rosemary, of Norwood, Thomas Higgott and his wife, Jaynee, of Culver City, Calif., Katherine Higgott of Wakefield, J. William Higgott and his wife, Lena, of Margate, Fla., and Ann Higgott and her fiance, Steven Gullotti, of Reading. He was the cherished grandfather of Will, Sara, Luke, Brandi and Holly Higgott, and Victoria Garrett.

Mr. Higgott was a resident of Reading for more than 45 years. He was very active in the town as a former town meeting member, having served on the committee for the new Reading Library and was a member of the Reading Republican Town Committee.

Henry received his civil engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. Throughout his career, he worked for Turner Construction Co. in New York, McDonald-Douglas in Santa Monica, Calif., and Avco Corp. in Wilmington. He retired from the Metropolitan District Commission, where he was project manager on many projects, including the Mystic River Park in Medford, the Revere Beach Renovation, the Revere Police Station Renovation, and various areas of the Franklin Park Zoo, particularly the Bird House, and repair/replacement of the locks in the Charles River. He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers.

He also had many hobbies, including reading, particularly military history, politics, computers, and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. He loved his four cats and two dogs, his vegetable garden and dancing.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a funeral service, celebrating Henry's life in the Chapel of Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main St. (Route 28), Stoneham, Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. Visiting hours are Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Parking attendants will be available. Interment is in Woodend Cemetery, Reading.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mr. Higgott's memory may be made to the MSPCA, Animal Rescue League of Boston or PAWS (Protection of Animals in Wakefield Society), c/o Sue Di Meo, 73 Prescott St., Reading, MA 01867.

For directions or to send a memorial condolence, visit www.barilefuneral.com.