John F. "Jack" Higgins Sr. passed away at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Wednesday, February 1, 2017. He was 89 years of age. Jack was born in Somerville on May 18, 1927 to the late Nathan & Frances (Gabrielle) Higgins. He was raised in Somerville, East Boston & Dorchester and joined the Merchant Marine right out of high school. Mr. Higgins went thru the US Maritime Service Training Station in Brooklyn, NY graduating in 1944. Jack served as a Chief Petty Bosun Officer in the Merchant Marine for 45 years and was a veteran who endured the dangers in the waters of WWII, the Vietnam & Korean Wars. When he was not called up to service by the United States of America he worked for City Service Shipping Company located in New York. Mr. Higgins truly loved his job, traveled the world and set foot on every continent across the globe. He was a lifetime member of the SIU (Seafarers International Union) and in his later years a member of the Teamsters Union. After his retirement Jack worked at Lechmere in Cambridge and at Park, Shuttle & Fly at Logan Airport. He enjoyed going to breakfast with his friends at Friendly's Restaurant in Stoneham and at Bickford's Restaurant. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family in Kennebunk, Maine and in the backyard at his daughter's home in Melrose. Jack was the beloved husband of 62 years to the late Katherine E. "Kaye" (O'Brien) Higgins. Loving father of John F. Higgins Jr. & his wife Kathleen of Bristol, England, Janet Restivo & her husband Jack of Melrose, Kimberly Higgins of Aspen, Colorado and the late Katherine E. "Kate" Henretta. Devoted grandfather of Andrew Henretta & his wife Kelly, Matthew Henretta, John Restivo & his wife Kristen, Michael Restivo, Jessamine Restivo, McNeil Fiske III, Tattinger Fiske, Parker Fiske & Kimberly Higgins. Great grandfather of Jack & Kayla Restivo. Brother of Joan Krupa and the late Frances Rose, Alma O'Keefe & Donald Higgins. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 8:45AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10AM. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at Gately Funeral Home, Melrose on Monday from 4:00-7:00PM. Burial at Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham. Memorial contributions may be made in Jack's name to The Jimmy Fund, Attention Multiple Myeloma Research, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226