Harry E. Higgins III

8/3/1940 - 2/10/2026

Pawcatuck - Harry E. Higgins III of 23 North Broad Street, Pawcatuck, died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday night, Feb. 10, 2026. He was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Norwich, the son of Harry E. Higgins II and Jane Parish. He was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. Harry E. Higgins. Harry is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Barbara Stowell Higgins; his son, Todd, and Todd's partner, Tonya Smith; and his son, Mark, and Mark's husband, Jim Pendergast. He is also survived by his sister, Linda Vaughn, and her husband, Ken, who live in California. His friends and family knew Harry as an intelligent, hard working and compassionate man with a great sense of humor.

Harry moved from Norwich to Stonington in the summer before his eighth grade year and lived in a couple of different homes on Lambert's Lane that his father built. He graduated from Stonington High School, Class of 195and the State University of New York Maritime College in 1962, earning a Coast Guard third mate's Merchant Marine license and a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He served as a deck officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine from 1962 to 1963. Harry left the Merchant Marines and married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Feb. 16, 1963. He was employed at Electric Boat in Groton for 33 years before retiring in 1996, as a senior facilities planning specialist. With his son Mark still in college, Harry embarked on an entirely new career at Pfizer as a regulatory affairs specialist, working at both the Groton and New London campuses. He retired from Pfizer in 2008.

He was a 53-year member of Central Baptist Church in Westerly where he served on various committees including the Board of Deacons, Board of Christian Education and as a church historian. In the 1970s, he was a leader in the Boy Scouts and a coach at the Pawcatuck Little League when his son Todd was a part of those two groups. In the 1980s, Harry represented the Town of Stonington on the Board of Directors of the Southeast Transit Authority (SEAT). Throughout his life, he was a devoted sports fan who loved the Red Sox, the Patriots, and the Boston Celtics. He enjoyed going to Seaside Beach Club in the summer and tending to his yard year round.

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Buckler-Johnston Funeral Home,121 Main Street, Westerly, R.I. and to the funeral service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at Central Baptist Church, 16 Elm Street, Westerly, followed by Interment at Riverbend Cemetery.

For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com