Barry R. Higgins

1951 – 2012

Hadley, Barry Raymond Higgins, 61, of Hadley died suddenly on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at BaystateMedicalCenter.

The son of the late Geraldine Mackenzie Higgins and Raymond Henry Higgins, Barry was born in Winchendon, MA on September 1, 1951.  He grew up in Amherst and attended Amherst schools and the University of Massachusetts.  He followed his father and older brother, Brian, into the electrical trade, joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 36 in Northampton as an apprentice electrician.  In his early years in the trade he traveled widely, working in Washington state, California, West Virginia, New York and Connecticut before returning to Massachusetts.

Barry was the devoted and beloved husband of the late Christina Page Higgins and the loving father of MacKenzie Jennings and her husband, Brian, of Springfield, MA.  In addition to his daughter and son-in-law, Barry leaves his five brothers and three sisters and their families: Brian (Janice), Steven (Kelly), and Maureen Durocher (John) of Hadley; Gail Kopinto (Lester) and Brent, of Hatfield; Christopher (Jane) of Bedford; Jon (Gail Kicza) of Whately; and Amy Schmidt (Mark) of Agawam.

Barry was, first and foremost, a family man.  He shared a deeply loving and committed marriage with his wife, Christina, and together they devoted their lives to raising their beloved daughter MacKenzie.  He was also a great reader and thinker, a lover of Irish music, a fine cook, and an enthusiastic gardener. He was generous, funny, a great storyteller and a good friend.

Barry’s great passion was the cause of the working men and women of this country.  He believed deeply in the dignity of labor and was a tireless and steadfast advocate for the right of unionized labor to protect the lives, the health and the safety of workers, as well as their right to negotiate for fair wages and benefits in return for their knowledge, skills and hard work.  Barry lived his life in accordance with these principles, serving as Business Manager of IBEW Local 36 in Northampton, International Representative, Organizer for Local 99 of the Operating Engineers, and member of IBEW Local 7 in Springfield.  He ended his career in the employ of Collins Electric of Chicopee, a proud union contractor. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be Monday Sept. 10^th, 10:00 AM at Most Holy Redeemer Church, Hadley, with burial  following in Wildwood Cemetery, Amherst. Calling hours will be Sunday Sept. 9^th, from 2 – 6 PM at The Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com

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