Higgins saluted for years of participation in Freehold
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer

Nolan Higgins

FREEHOLD - Many people in Freehold Borough are aware that Nolan Higgins wears many hats. He is a funeral director, a former chief of the Freehold Fire Department and a member of many civic organizations and committees.

In recognition of Higgins' service and contributions to the community he was recently named this year's recipient of the John G. McGackin award.

The award was presented to Higgins at a recent meeting of the Borough Council by Jane Maury, the widow of the late Mayor Jack McGackin, who died in office in 1985 as the borough was beginning what came to be known as its renaissance.

Councilman Michael DiBenedetto praised Higgins and said he does many things people are aware of and many more that are done behind the scenes.

"And in the end you always find out that Nolan has been a key figure in something important," DiBenedetto said. "Nolan is the glue that holds everything together."

Higgins, 50, is a lifelong resident of Freehold Borough and a descendent of generations of people who lived in Freehold, on both sides of his family.

After accepting the award from Maury and listening to what people said about the many things he has done for the community over the years, Higgins said, "If you live in Freehold, that's what you do. You have a role in your community, especially if you live in a town like Freehold Borough. Everyone contributes in some way to the community. I love this town."

Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer said Higgins was deserving of the award and noted that he served the town with distinction as chief of the fire department.

"Nolan was awarded this honor for all the things we know he's done," Shutzer said, "but it's the many things that people don't know about that makes him so deserving of this honor."

Shutzer thanked Higgins' wife, Chris, and their daughters, Jessica, 24, and Allison, 20. She said they provide the support and understanding Higgins needs in order to do the good work he does.

"Nolan is a gentleman and he cares about his town. He puts his money where his mouth is," the councilwoman said. "He wants no accolades, and that is humility. He loves his community."

Kerry Higgins, who is the borough attorney and is Higgins' cousin, said her family is very proud of him and his accomplishments and service to the town.

"His commitment to the fire department and to Freehold Borough, serving on numerous committees and boards, is a prime example of how one individual can make a difference. Nolan is a very deserving recipient of this award," she said.

Higgins learned about volunteerism and community involvement from his parents. His father, funeral director Jim Higgins, born in Colts Neck, and his late mother Angela Higgins, born in Manalapan,

were from what he called farm families and were involved with their communities. He said his parents' community service provided an example to their children that spoke louder than any words could have.

Higgins said his father was a member of the Freehold Borough Planning Board and his mother was involved in local history, serving as a member of the Monmouth County Historical Association and composing a history of St. Rose of Lima Church and cemetery.

Nolan Higgins attended St. Rose of Lima School in the borough and Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a degree in business management and from the American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City.

In 1979, Higgins, then 22, joined the Freehold Fire Department. He worked his way up the ranks and became chief in June 2000. He said he always had an interest in the fire department.

He got involved with civic organizations at a young age, working with the Exchange Club in the mid-1980s. That service organization, which no longer meets, held events to benefit churches and hospitals.

Higgins joined the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal group that does good work for church and community, in the mid- 1980s and was made Grand Knight. He joined the Rotary Club in the late 1980s and is a past-president of that organization.

He has been involved with fundraising events for the benefit of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, the YMCA of Western Monmouth County and the Monmouth County Historical Association.

A love of local history is a family trait and one that prompted Higgins to take on the task of researching the history of the Freehold Fire Department in 1994-95, which was then written by author and borough resident Kevin Coyne.

Higgins served on the Freehold Borough Zoning Board of Adjustment for 18 years. He is a member of the Professional Funeral Directors Group and a trustee of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. Higgins is the manager of the family owned and operated Higgins Memorial Home on Center Street in the borough.