James Higgins Jr.

James Higgins, 88, of Falmouth, MA died at home on February 8, 2026. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Jim loved dogs, camping, sailing, spy novels, jazz, and sports. He was an avid fan of the Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots. His humor and sharp wit were well known and appreciated by all. He will be missed.

Jim was born in Pittston, PA, but spent most of his childhood in Binghamton, NY, where he received his undergraduate degree from Harpur College (now Binghamton University). He played college basketball for all four years and led the team in scoring and rebounding in different seasons. He averaged over 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 fouls per game over his career. He was named Team MVP and the college's Athlete of the Year for the 1959-60 season.

Jim earned an MA from Boston College in Mathematics and completed PhD work at the University of Rochester. He became a math professor at Loyola University Maryland and taught part-time at Johns Hopkins University. He later returned to Binghamton as the assistant director of the Computer Center at SUNY. While there, he served on the Town/Gown Committee which worked to build cooperative relations between the college and the Town of Vestal.

Jim went on to be director of the computing center at the State University at Buffalo for several years before moving to Harvard, MA where he spent the next 38 years. Jim joined Digital Equipment Corporation as director of Educational Services and eventually became a director of marketing. After retiring from DEC, he worked at Raytheon and Systemonic before forming his own company, Learning Systems International.

While living in Harvard, Jim served on the Cable Services Committee, counseled inmates at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Shirley, served as a chef for the nonprofit organization Open Table in Concord, and drove elderly residents to appointments. Jim was a staple at weekly softball games and meetings of his poker group. Jim and his wife, Nadya, moved to Falmouth, MA in 2015. For many years, Jim served on the Board of Trustees for Treetops Condominium Trust in Falmouth.

Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nadya Aswad Higgins; his children, Jeffrey and Jennifer; his daughters-in-law Cynthia and Jacqueline; his grandchildren, Mika, Elliot, Skye, and Faris; his three sisters, Joyce Higgins, Mary Klein (and her husband David), and Kathy Keane (and her husband John); his brothers-in-law Charles Aswad (and his wife Joanne), Richard Aswad; his sisters-in-law Shelley Snell Aswad and Milly Delia; and his many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his beloved cocker spaniel, Beau. Jim was predeceased by his parents, James and Madeline; his older brother, John (and his wife Sheila); his brothers-in-law Edward Kehoe and Edward Aswad; and his sister-in-law Betsy Aswad.

A Memorial Service to honor Jim's life will be held on Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 475 Main Street, Falmouth, MA 02540.