1933 - 2020
No Vistitation Date Scheduled
Funeral
October 21, 202011 AM
Fairview Cemetery, Main St. Chelmsford, MA
Mr. Walter Leonard Higgins, 87, of Chelmsford, MA died Monday, May 4, 2020 at Belvidere Health Care Center in Lowell, MA.
He was married to Mrs. Joyce A. (Burnham) Higgins with whom he would have celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on August 12, 2020.
Walter was a communicant of St. Mary Church in Chelmsford, MA.
Born in Stoneham, MA, and raised in Hingham, MA, he was the son of the late Walter Leo and Catherine (Sullivan) Higgins. Walter was a graduate of Hingham High School with the class of 1951 and later attended Boston University.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1953-1957 stationed at Fleet Weather Central in Hawaii. His service in the Navy sparked a lifelong love of weather and inspired his career as a meteorologist, which spanned over four decades. He started a meteorologist working in the Old John Hancock tower in Boston, MA and retired from Meteorlogix of Lexington, MA in 2004.
Walter enjoyed his profession, and respected his colleagues, especially Harvey Leonard, a WCVB meteorologist. He loved exploring nature and going for walks at Great Brook Farm State Park. When at home, he was often found doing crossword or Sudoku puzzles. The biggest joy in his life was his family.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son Ken and his wife, Kelly Higgins of Merrimack, NH; a daughter, Kristen and her husband Adam Browning of Ayer, MA; a brother, John Higgins of Payson, AZ; a sister, Elaine Mercer of Merrimack, NH; a sister-in-law, Diane Higgins of Blue Springs, MO; three grandchildren, Jonathan and Elise Browning and Kayla Higgins; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother of the late Melbourne Higgins of Blue Springs, MO.
Burial in Fairview Cemetery, Chelmsford at 11am on Wednesday October 21, 2020. Memorials may be made in his name to the Chelmsford Public Library 25 Boston Road Chelmsford, MA 01824. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com
John Leavitt
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A respected colleague for two decades
Judy Sylvester
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Joyce, very sorry for your loss. I will miss walter.Hope your family is doing well. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
Doug Webster
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Joyce and family, my condolences. A wonderful work colleague for 25 years.
Brian G.
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Condolences to Joyce and family. I remember him as a very pleasant and friendly coworker for over 15 years.
James Meikle
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I worked with Walt from Labor Day 1969 when I started at Northeast Weather Service and will remember him as a great work colleague for over 30 years. My condolences to Joyce and his family.
Larry Mack
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I had the pleasure of working with Wally in weather at WSC, from 1979 to 2004. My fondest memory of Wally was what a great family man he truly was. My deepest condolences go out to Joyce and all the family.
Frank Vitale
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My condolences to Joyce and family. So sorry to hear of this. I worked with Walt for many, many years at WSC. I have many fond memories of that time.
Tom Mattus
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Worked with Walt for over 20 years at Weather Services Corp. I remember him as a kind and loving family man. Truly sorry to hear of his passing.
David Pietras
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My deepest sympathy to Joyce and family. I worked with Walt for 25 years at WSC and remember him as a great co-worker, friend, and family man.
Jack Higgins
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My sincerest condolences to Wally’s wife Joyce and his wonderful family. My respect and love for my bother goes back many years. I considered him to be the smart one in our family, and truly a great role model for me to follow. One trait in particular that impressed me was Wally’s spirit of adventure. In his younger years, he and his buddies would set up camp on one of the islands in Hingham Harbor during summer break. They had a small motor boat they used to make an occasional trips to their homes for needed supplies, a necessary change of clothing, and supper with their families. But for the most part these young guys fended for themselves by fishing and digging clams for food. They acted like a gang of pirates and believed the island was theirs to control. The only people allowed to visit the island had to be invited. In late summer this gang of pirates would abandon their camp and move home for the start of school. I remember how fit he looked, thin and a very dark tan. Another story I remember about Wally’s adventurist spirit happened while he was attending BU and working evenings as a weather forecaster in an office on the top floor in the John Hancock Building. One evening while Wally was working and listening to this favorite radio station, the radio host expressed his belief in the power of the human will power and suggested his audience concentrate on putting the weather light out on top of the John Hancock building. As the host counted down to zero he kept repeating “concentrate, concentrate” and when he said “zero”, Wally reached over and switched the weather light off. What happened next was sheer pandemonium. Wally honestly thought this radio host was going to have a heart attack. He kept screaming, “we did it, it’s out” over and over again. I’m sure there are many people in the Boston area to this day that truly believe in the power of the human mind as the result of what my wonderful brother did that evening. I pray for his sole and truly believe he is now at peace, and free of his earthly bounds. God speed my brother. Jack