We write to announce the death of our father, James T. Higgins Jr., MD. Throughout his long life, he was dedicated to medical research, education and practice. In his work and in his leisure, Jim was committed to nature and conservation, equity and inclusion, and civil rights. In the home, he was a supportive spouse, father and grandfather.
In the laboratory, Jim made major contributions to medical science. The scientists who work unremarked by the public build the foundations for future advances, and that is very true for our dad’s research. He studied how membranes regulate the transport of materials in and out of the cell and applied this knowledge to early kidney dialysis and transplant experiments, contributing to the foundational knowledge needed for modern renal patient care. He was concerned to the end about how the cuts to science and health funding are destroying opportunities to improve our knowledge and challenging future health care for all.
Practicing and teaching at medical schools for more than 40 years, Jim enriched others’ lives by teaching, mentoring and collaborating with generations of younger medical professionals. He dedicated himself to public service in medicine by volunteering at inner-city health clinics and only practicing at public hospitals, from Indianapolis to the Albany, N.Y., VA. His joy in medical science continued to the end, as he chatted, joked and quizzed the doctors, nurses and technicians providing care during his final illness.
Outside of the lab and clinic, Jim’s primary hobby was woodworking. By the time he retired, he and Mom had built their dream house on the side of a mountain in upstate New York, where, when not working on the house, they took long walks in the woods. Together, they did all the interior wood and tile work. When living in such rural isolation was no longer safe, they moved to Burlington, Vt., to be closer to family.
He and Mom had a rich, 69-year-long marriage, raising four children who were each successful in their ways, and he accepted that their children’s choices were different from theirs. The success of their children is reflected in the five grandchildren, again each different and unique in their own life choices. When Mom developed Alzheimer’s, Jim dedicated himself to her care, and he did not stop fighting death until satisfied of her continued care and safety.
Jim kept his wits to the end, nine days shy of 91, and in that manner was granted what might be the ultimate piece of good fortune: the ability to choose when and how he wanted to die. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at 6:05 p.m. on July 4, 2025, at University of Vermont Medical College in Burlington, Vt. He is survived by spouse Laurel Higgins; children Linden, Tom, Chandler and John; grandchildren Haley, Lauren, Gailin, Mynard and Rebekah; step-grandchildren Jonathon and Ashleigh; and great-granddaughter Penelope.
This article appears in The Cartoon Issue 2025.
I recall taking Jim on my little sailboat on the Chesapeake Bay and we ended up pulling a Gaullidet (sp) deaf & dumb student who had tried to swim across the bay at the bridge. Motor boats had not seen or heard his faint cries, but we did. Some things stick out to we elders.
— Buzz Gibbs, class 1959