Longtime Herald payroll manager David Higgins of Braintree, at 69
David D. “Bugs” Higgins of Braintree, formerly of Cambridge, a longtime payroll manager for the Boston Herald, died April 1. He was 69.
Born in Boston and raised in Cambridge, he graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School in 1966 and attended Northeastern University.
Mr. Higgins served in the Army, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan., and obtained the rank of specialist during the Vietnam Era.
He was employed as the payroll manager of the Boston Herald, where he worked for 46 years until retirement this past March.
He loved to ski, travel and play golf.
“Dave was an excellent worker and a treasure trove of Boston Herald history,” said a colleague of 23 years, Art Pelletier. “If there was a question regarding pay or benefits, Dave was the go-to person . ... He will be missed by all who knew him and appreciated his wit, dedication to the Herald and friendship.”
Karen Parsons, former Herald employee and longtime friend of Mr. Higgins, said he “knew everything by heart and every person” who worked at the Herald.
“He used to go in on weekends because years ago there were two payroll days, Tuesday and Thursdays, and he would just go in to get things done, just very dedicated to his job,” Parsons said.
“Dave always made me feel at home,” said Gary Golden, an account executive at the Herald. “He epitomized all the good things that the Herald has stood for for so many years. We will all miss him.”
Herald Director of Production John Fletcher said Higgins was “a very hard worker at a difficult job.”
“I don’t think many appreciated how hard that was,” Fletcher said. “It was a very difficult job and he always did it. He had a lot of respect around here. Everyone gave him respect.”
Aimee Monteith, a Herald account executive who had known Mr. Higgins for 20 years, said he was “a very genuine and generous person.”
“There’s no one quite like him. He is an A-class guy,” she said. “He had a smart wit about him, too. He was a funny guy and always put a smile on your face.”
Mr. Higgins is survived by his wife, Tracey A. (Dalrymple); three step-daughters, Ashley Rudd of Georgia, and Shae and Cian of Braintree; two sisters, Patsy Izzo of Plymouth and Barbara Daniels of Hanover; two brothers, Edward of Harwich and James of Hopewell, N.J.; a grandson; nine nieces and nephews; and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Braintree.
Burial will be in the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Arrangements by Cartwright-Venuti Funeral Home, Braintree.