Mr. Richard "Dick" Francis Higgins

Richard (Dick) Higgins was born September 12, 1931 in Glen Ridge, NJ to Edward and Louise Higgins. He passed on September 12, 2022, on his 91st birthday. Dick served as a Maryknoll Missionary for 20 years. He mostly spent time in the Philippines, where he ministered to the local communities and built schools. After leaving the Maryknoll community, Dick taught for Atlantic Cape Community College on the Jersey shore. Later, an opportunity with Southern Company Services brought Dick and his wife, Eileen, to Atlanta. At Southern Company, Dick conducted Management Training classes in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Dick’s zest for teaching and his faith were a key role in teaching adult education classes for many years at St. Aquinas Catholic Church. Retiring from Southern Company, Dick found his ideal job as director of Seniors Enriched Living (SEL) in the Roswell and Alpharetta Area. Dick spent 23 years in this position expanding the program to a higher level of education with retired professors and business leaders who volunteered their teaching time. The organization grew to 400 participants at the time of his retirement from SEL in 2018. A person with a thirst for learning and knowledge, Dick was a voracious reader who loved to discuss history, religion, and current affairs. He so enjoyed the art of conversation. Always a sports fan; cheering on the Braves, Notre Dame, Auburn (WDE), basketball and any game that his grandchildren were playing in. He is preceded in death by his wife, Eileen Maloney Higgins; his parents; and his brothers, Edward, Paul, and Robert. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Mary Anne; his daughter, Mercedes Sanker (Steve Midas) of Chesapeake, VA; his stepsons, Brian DeStefano (Lisa) of Cumming, GA and Kevin DeStefano (Audra) of Auburn, AL; and the “Magnificent 7” grandchildren, Tatum, Michael and Aveary Sanker of Chesapeake, VA, Connor and Declan DeStefano of Cumming, GA, Aubrey and Paisley DeStefano of Auburn, AL; and many beloved nieces and nephews. A memorial mass will take place at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at 10:00am with a reception to follow. Interment will be at Green Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Newark, NJ 07102 or North Fulton Charities, 11275 Elkins Road, Roswell, GA 30076.

Mr. Richard "Dick" Francis Higgins

September 12, 1931 - September 12, 2022