The "richest" man in Las Vegas, Dr. Gerald L. Higgins, passed away Aug. 10, 2014, at his home. His wealth is measured in the life he led and the lives he touched. Doc, Hig, Jerry, Papa or Dad, however you knew him, he will be greatly missed by us all. Born in Madison, Wis., Sept. 2, 1934, Jerry attended the University of Notre Dame, one of the loves of his life, and went on to attend medical school at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. Jerry and Lucia, his wife of almost 60 years, moved to Las Vegas in 1969 with their 10 children. Jerry was one of the first orthopedic surgeons in town and he had an active practice until his death. If you were an athlete in the 1970's or 1980's or 90's, or for that matter a Las Vegas resident, you were more than likely to have been touched by this generous man. Jerry and Lucia received many honors and awards during his lifetime. They were named to the Bishop Gorman High School Royal Order of the Gael for their years of service and commitment to Catholic education. For his many years of service as the team doctor for UNLV Jerry was inducted into both the UNLV and Southern Nevada Sports Halls of Fame. Jerry recently received the Clark County Medical Society's Lifetime Achievement Award. But as Hig would say, that was all "serendipitous," because more than any of those honors he was most proud of his ten children, their spouses, and his 27 grandchildren. In the end that will be his legacy. He loved a good soccer game (but only if one of his grandkids was playing), he loved UNLV sports of all kinds (yes, even women's volleyball), he loved the Fighting Irish on a Saturday afternoon in the fall, he loved his patients and being a doctor, he loved the Three Angry Wives, but most of all he loved his wife, Lucia Bug. Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved grandson, Joe Zaher. He is survived by his wife, Lucia; his sister, Sr. Gloria Higgins; and his children and their spouses, Maureen Higgins and Jack Zaher, Mary Beth Higgins and Eric Olsen, Michael Higgins, Brigid Higgins, Kevin and Ana-Marie (Medica) Higgins, Sean and Lynn (Slatoff) Higgins, Dr. Brian and Lisa (Cooper) Higgins, Mary Shannon Higgins and Chris Coley, Dr. Terry and Beth (Glenn) Higgins, and Rory Higgins and Colby Williams. He is also survived by 26 of his 27 grandchildren. Please join us for tears and laughter as we say goodbye. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church, 3050 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89107. Private burial will be in Sun Valley, Idaho, surrounded by his family. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Gerald L. Higgins Scholarship Fund at UNLV.
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