James F. Higgins, Sr. of Jupiter, FL passed away peacefully on August 16, 2021 in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He was 84 years of age.

Jim’s family was the joy of his life. He was the loving husband for over 58 years of Catherine (Crotty) Higgins and devoted father of James F. Higgins, Jr. and his wife, Kathleen Zortman of Summit, NJ and Chatham, MA, and Paul J. Higgins and his wife, Rachel Higgins, of Westwood, MA. He loved spending time with his 3 fantastic grandchildren; Kathleen Higgins, Elizabeth Higgins, and John Higgins. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

Jim was born in Somerville, one of 7 children born to Joseph and Alice Higgins and the family later moved to Newton. He graduated from St. Sebastian’s School in 1954 and received a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College in 1958. He proudly served his country as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He would go on to earn his Pipefitters license and was a member of the Pipefitters Local 537.

Following Boston College, Jim joined his father and his brothers at J.C. Higgins Company, a mechanical contracting firm founded by his father. He was involved in the construction of many landmark buildings in the greater Boston area including many hospitals and university buildings. He enjoyed working with his brothers at this multi-generational business for many years and retired in 1995, a few years after the company was sold.

Jim summered in Scituate, MA for the majority of his life in the Minot Beach area. Jim and Cathy raised their sons in Milton and Scituate, and spent their retirement in Jupiter, FL and Scituate.

A devoted golfer, Jim was a member of Hatherly Country Club, The Milton-Hoosic Club, Wollaston Golf Club, and Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club in Jupiter, FL. Amongst his many hole-in-one accomplishments was acing the 5th hole at the Milton-Hoosic Club twice in the same month.

Jim was a generous man who gave regularly to numerous charities, especially those related to his Catholic faith. He and Cathy were very proud to be benefactors in the construction of Conte Forum at Boston College.

Jim is also survived by three of his siblings; his sisters, Eleanor Rodgers of Portland, ME, and Evelyn Beveridge of Scituate, MA, and his brother, Jack Higgins of Jamaica Plain, MA. Jim was predeceased by his sisters Mary Nash, Alice Slattery, and his brother Joseph Higgins, Jr.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Anthony Parish, 10 Summer Street, Cohasset, Thursday, August 26 at 10:30 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Jim by donating to Boston College in his memory at https://give.bc.edu/campaigns/15467/donations/new?a=3974040