Martin Thomas Higgins
April 13, 1933 – April 15, 2024
Martin T. Higgins, 91, an active member of the Red Hook community for fifty-seven years, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2024. His final days were spent happily living with his family in Needham, MA and bravely being supported by hospice care for advanced prostate cancer. Surrounded in love and comfort he left 268 Harris Ave ninety-one years and two days after he was brought into this world to be reunited in Heaven with the love of his life, his wife, Esther Higgins, and his son, Martin Higgins.
Born on April 13, 1933, in Manhattan, NY to James and Mary (Leech) Higgins, Marty was proud of his immigrant parents who came to the United States from Mayo and Westmeath counties in Ireland. Marty always said the best decision he ever made was marrying Esther Kavanagh on September 7, 1957, at St. Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst, NY. Essie really made that decision (and most others for their next 56 years). What we know for sure is that Marty and Esther lived life demonstrating the type of union that most dream about. For that, we are all blessed.
Marty enjoyed two careers and even more hobbies. He worked for many years as a programmer and educational trainer at IBM in Ulster and Dutchess counties. At an age when most retirees golf, Marty became a ski instructor and worked at the Adaptive Ski Center on Windham Mountain in Windham, NY. Marty’s man cave was the basement at 21 Aspinwall Road where you would find him making his own ties or picture frames; upholstering furniture or cutting and fitting stained glass; or building a model ship from the original blueprint.
What we learned from Dad during his last two years was simple and profound – the most important aspects of life are people and relationships. We- his daughter Margaret Higgins and her husband Tony Christopher of Mountain View, CA; his son James Higgins of Albany, NY; and his daughter Kathleen Ward and her husband Mark Ward of Needham, MA – didn’t just survive our Father, we learned how to keep living from him. He was a loving Grandpa to Katherine, Grace and Gregory Ward and took great delight in spending time with them. Marty was blessed by his sister, Marion Higgins of Bayside, NY who supported him with faith and laughter. He is also survived by his niece, Lyn (Higgins) Tobin and her husband Joe Tobin of Greenwood Lake, NY; his sister-in-law Joan Kavanagh of Freeport, NY; and his nephew and nieces, Thomas, Patricia, and Donna Kavanagh. Along with Essie and Martin, Marty joined his parents; brother and sister-in-law, James and Marilyn Higgins; his nephew James Higgins; his cousin, the Rev. Donald Kavanagh, all in Heaven. Big Mart is also survived by countless friends that were his extended family.
The family is grateful to the many medical professionals and caring community members in Massachusetts and New York who offered Marty expert, compassionate care with the type of mutual respect that can only be considered love. Among them are Dads in home caregivers; the Good Shepherd Community Care Hospice in Newton, MA; his friends and staff at the Scandinavian Living Center in Newton, MA; the clergy, deacons and lay ministers of Saint Joseph’s Parish, Needham, MA and many medical professionals at Northern Dutchess Hospital, Rhinebeck, NY and in Red Hook.
For friends in the Boston area, a Celebration of Life Mass will be offered on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Church, Needham, MA.
Friends may call at the Burnett & White Funeral Homes on Friday, June 7, 2024, from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11:00 am Saturday, June 8, 2024, at St. Christopher’s Church, Red Hook, NY. Burial will be at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery, Red Hook.
Memorial donations may be made in Marty’s memory to the Adaptive Sports Foundation to support their work ensuring individuals with differing abilities have access to skiing and sports.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnett & White Funeral Homes 7461 S. Broadway, Red Hook, NY. For directions, or to sign the online guest book, please visit www.Burnett-White.com.
