Jack Higgins
John "Jack" Higgins V, 85, of Mountainside, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, Aug. 2, after a long battle with cancer.
Born in the Bronx, Jack lived most of his life in Westfield, NJ, before moving to Mountainside, with his wife of 35 years, Maryann.
After graduating from Regis High School in New York, he attended Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Jack went on to obtain his Master's in Chemistry from Fordham University. He then worked as a chemist for Exxon Chemicals in Linden and Florham Park, NJ for 41 years, during which time he obtained 17 patents.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman all of his life. After retiring, he volunteered endless hours at the St. Joseph's Soup Kitchen in Elizabeth, NJ and at the Great Swamp, where he eventually became president of the board.
Jack is survived by his wife, Maryann, children, Tara, John and Andrew, stepchildren, Dee, Donna, Kathy and George, and 14 grandchildren.
Friends and relatives may call on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, between 4 and 8 p.m. at Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home, 582 Springfield Avenue, Westfield, NJ.
A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Helen's Church in Westfield. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Helping Hands and Hearts, The Great Swamp, The Center for Hope Hospice and/or Family Reach, familyreach.org/donate.
