Former Fanwood Councilman Joe Higgins Dies At Age 75

FANWOOD, NJ — Joseph Higgins, a former member of the Fanwood Council who coached baseball alongside his son at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, died on July 1 at the age of 75 at his home in Woodbridge, according to a press release from the town.

Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Fanwood Borough Council have expressed their condolences on the recent death Higgins. Other than being a council member, Higgins was a military veteran, minor league baseball player and a 25-year employee of New Jersey Transit.

While on the Council from 2005-2007, Higgins served as Chair of the Recreation and Community Services Committee, as Council Liaison to the Land Use and Historic Preservation and Shade Tree Commissions, as Council Liaison to the Planning Board and as Fire Commissioner.

In addition to serving on the Fanwood Council, he was a volunteer assistant baseball coach at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School from 2010-2019 alongside his son Joseph, Jr. who is still the baseball coach there. In the early 90s, he was inducted into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 7 from GERITY & CHUBENKO FUNERAL HOME at 411 Amboy Avenue in Woodbridge. There will be a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Resurrection following at St. James R.C. Church.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.