J. Higgins Obituary

J. Barry Higgins, age 87 of Hamburg, passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024, at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice with his loving family by his side. Born in Jersey City, NJ, to the late John and Mabel (Fowlston) Higgins, Barry grew up in Jersey City and lived in Bayonne and Lords Valley, PA, before moving to Sparta where he resided for 37½ years. Three years ago, Barry and Lynn moved to Hardyston Township.
Barry graduated from Jersey City State College where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees. He retired as a Science Supervisor from the Jersey City School System where he worked for 28 years. Outside of the classroom, Barry was a baseball and softball umpire, a swim instructor and coach in Hudson County, and a NJSIAA swimming official. He was active in the Sparta community as a church volunteer and as a member and past president of the Sparta Kiwanis. Barry was a loyal Yankees fan, and he enjoyed spending time with family and friends on Cape Cod.
Barry was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Daniel and Spencer Higgins, and his daughter Gail Higgins. He was the beloved husband of Lynn (Fedyshyn) Higgins for 49 years, the loving father of daughters Janice Vaszlavik and her husband Bela, Yvette Higgins, and Kate Higgins. Barry was the dear grandfather of Clark Curtis, Brittany Vaszlavik, Bela John Vaszlavik, Shaun Gonzalez, and Jessica Wick (Devin), and the cherished great grandfather of Brayden, McKayla, and Bennett Curtis and Parker Wick. Barry is also survived by his former wife Mary Louise Rossi Higgins.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 2:00 PM at the Sparta United Methodist Church. Donations in memory of Barry may be made to:
Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation
99 Sparta Avenue
Newton, NJ 07860
www.karenannquinlanhospice.org