Lt. Cmdr. Richard L. Higgins USN (Ret)

Lt. Cmdr. Richard L. Higgins USN, (Ret), 83 SCARBOROUGH -- Lt. Cmdr. Richard L. Higgins USN, (Ret), 83, formerly of Boothbay Harbor, died on Aug. 27, 2008, at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, after a long period of failing health., Mr. Higgins was born June 20, 1925, in Dorchester, Mass., the son of Richard L. Sr. and Jennie Chisholm Higgins. He left school early to enlist as a seaman in the U.S. Navy in December of 1941 and served during WWII, Korea, and Vietnam wars. Working his way up the ranks, he retired as Lieutenant Commander in 1971 after serving 30 years. For his support of the war effort, he recently received an honorary High School Diploma. He married Marie T. Pearce in 1949, with whom he had five sons and enjoyed 56 years of marriage. In his retirement in Boothbay Harbor he was an active parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, a member of the American Legion in Boothbay, was an avid reader of history and biographical books, a member of the Retired Naval Officers Association, played golf when he could, and deeply loved his family and his church. He is predeceased by his wife, Marie T. Higgins, who died Nov. 13, 2005; his brother, Joseph Higgins and his sister, Margaret Brophy. Survivors include his children, Richard L. Higgins Jr. and his wife Paula, their children Richard and Brian all of Richland, Wash.; the Most Rev. Michael J. Higgins, T.O.R. of Rome, Italy; Peter T. Higgins and his wife Tina, their sons Benjamin, Nathan and his wife Lisa, and Sean, all of Portland; Donald R. Higgins and his wife Eileen of Boothbay, their children Crystal and her husband Mike Uleau and their children Jack and Charlie from Galena, Md., Jason and his daughter Savannah of Norfolk, Va., Matthew, of San Diego, Calif., and Julie of Gorham; Stephen G. Higgins and his wife Mikayla and their children Mara and Caden of Gaithersburg, Md.; a daughter-in-law Heidi Kieffer-Higgins and grandson Marshall of Dorchester; and brother William Higgins and sister Mary Aaron. Visiting hours will be held 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Boothbay Harbor, where a funeral Mass will be celebrated 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 30. Interment will be in Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta. Arrangements are entrusted to Simmons, Harrington & Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 975 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay. Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Higgins' memory to: The Franciscan Friars T.O.R. P.O. Box 137 Loretto, Pennsylvania 15940 Richard L. Higgins