Obituary of Dr. R. Brian Higgins

Dr. R. Brian Higgins of Saint John passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was born in Saint John on January 31, 1928 to the late Edward and Catherine Higgins.

Brian received his B.A. from St. Anne’s College in Church Point in 1948 followed by his M.D. from Laval University in 1953. He received his surgical training at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, N.Y. from 1953-1957 and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City from 1957-1958. He was a Diplomate of The American Board of Surgery, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. Brian was a founding member and past president of the N.B. Surgical Society. He was Chief of Surgery and Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee at St. Joseph’s Hospital for more than 20 years as well as being on active staff of the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was also Assistant Professor of Surgery, Dalhousie University from 1970-1993.

In addition to his parents, Brian was pre-deceased by his wife, Pierrette (Duval) Higgins in 2009 and his brother, Rev. E. John Higgins in 2011.

Brian is survived by his five children; Michael and his wife Tracey of Regina, David and his wife Christina of Quispamsis, Brian and his wife Fiona of Saint John, Susan Sinstadt and her husband Michael of Nanaimo, Peter and his wife Gisele of Grand Bay-Westfield. He will also be sadly missed by his twelve grandchildren and four great-grandsons.

Brian never tired of the beauty of the Saint John and Kennebecasis Rivers, spending many hours sailing and boating or enjoying the view from his chair on the deck of his Belleisle Bay cottage. 

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, N.B. (634-7424). Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 2-4 PM. Guests are asked to enter the funeral home using the courtyard entrance, where staff will greet and assist you with Covid-19 protocol. Masks or face coverings are mandatory. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Pius X Catholic Church of Holy Redeemer Parish (316 Somerset Street) on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 11:00 AM. The service will be able to be viewed remotely by following the link on this obituary from the Brenan’s website. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation or to the charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com

The family would like to thank all physicians and health care personnel who participated in his care over the past few months at both the St. Joseph’s and the Saint John Regional Hospitals.