John Joseph Higgins Jr.

   John Joseph Higgins Jr., 68, passed away on November 11, 2022 at Leisure Chateau in Lakewood, NJ.  

     John was born in Brooklyn, New York to the late Sally and John Higgins on September 3,1954. 

     He lived in many places from Maryland to Red Bank to Matawan where he spent most of his childhood, playing little league baseball and later graduating from Matawan Regional High School.  There he developed a passion for working on cars. He worked on many cars over the years from his `57 Chevy to his classic Corvettes. 

     John later found a career as a self-taught chef and worked in several Jersey shore restaurants. During the summers he also enjoyed crabbing in Barnegat Bay and the Navesink River.

     In his early thirties he was diagnosed with Schizophrenia and battled that awful disease for many years, living in several different group homes in Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant and eventually Lakewood. Though he struggled, he still always made friends with both patients and caregivers and even cooked for the group homes on occasion.

     John is survived by his sisters, Barbara (Thomas) Boksan of Bethlehem Pa, Betty (Charlie) Williams of Fair Haven NJ, Rosemary Higgins of Leonardo, NJ, Margie (Dennis) DeBeVoise of Aberdeen NJ; his nephews Derek Boksan, Jesse Williams and Jonathan DeBeVoise and Niece Kayla DeBeVoise.

     The family would like to thank all his caregivers over the years and a special thanks to those at Leisure Chateau who cared for him until his final days. He will be missed and forever in our hearts. 
     
     A private graveside memorial service will be held for John on Tuesday November 22, 2022 at Old Tennent Cemetery of Manalapan, New Jersey located at 454 Tennent Road Manalapan New Jersey 07726.

    In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions can be made in John's name to 
The Mental Health Association of Monmouth County, 106 Apple Street (Suite 10) Tinton Falls, New Jersey 07724 (LETTERS TO THE ATTENTION OF:  Foundation) , or donate by visiting their web site at mentalhealthmonmouth.org

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