Richard Kirk Higdon
September 2, 1950 — June 29, 2014
Richard "Kirk" Higdon
Richard Kirk Higdon, 63, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was surrounded by family including his wife of 42 years, Sheila (Finnegan) and their four children, Julia Sibley, Amanda Smith, Rebecca Higdon and Robert Higdon and his two sons–in- law, Jonathan Sibley and Christopher Smith. Kirk is also survived by his two grandchildren, Shannon Sibley and William Smith as well as his brothers Charles Higdon of Catonsville and Paul Higdon of Sykesville. In addition he is survived by a large extended family and a multitude of friends.
Kirk was born September 2, 1950 to Eugene and Jean (Braund) Higdon in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up on Melvin Avenue in Catonsville, Maryland. In 1972 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater College and began what would be a 40 year career in Law Enforcement in 1971 as a patrol officer for the Staunton City Police Department in Stanton, Virginia. He moved back to his hometown of Catonsville in 1973 and began serving as a serving as a patrol officer for the Baltimore County Police Department (“BCPD”) at Wilken’s station in Catonsville, Maryland. In 1976 he began working in planning and research at BCPD headquarters where he remained for 18 years until being appointed the Office Manager for the Chief of BCPD in 1994 where he finished out his career having served as the Office Manager for three Chiefs. He retired as a lieutenant in 2010 after he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (“IPF”).
IPF was the second of two significant, chronic health issues he would face in his life. In 1980 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”) and suffered extremely limited mobility for 6 months. He fought his way back and his illness went into remission with only a few relapses in his life. In March of 2011, Kirk was blessed with the gift of a new set of lungs. That gift added three precious years and took him on a journey where he was surrounded by the love, laughter and support of many family and friends, and by the caring and compassionate physicians and staff at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In his 63 years, he was a courageous hero in all facets of his life. He truly lived his life to the fullest, with lots of humor thrown in and he will live on in our hearts forever.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Pulmonary Gift Fund at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Checks should be made payable to Johns Hopkins University with a notation in memory of Richard Kirk Higdon and mailed to
Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine
5200 Eastern Avenue
MFL Center Tower, Suite 356
Baltimore, MD 21224
Richard Kirk Higdon, 63, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 29, 2014 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was surrounded by family including his wife of 42 years, Sheila (Finnegan) and their four children, Julia Sibley, Amanda Smith, Rebecca Higdon and Robert Higdon and his two sons–in- law, Jonathan Sibley and Christopher Smith. Kirk is also survived by his two grandchildren, Shannon Sibley and William Smith as well as his brothers Charles Higdon of Catonsville and Paul Higdon of Sykesville. In addition he is survived by a large extended family and a multitude of friends.
Kirk was born September 2, 1950 to Eugene and Jean (Braund) Higdon in Baltimore, Maryland and grew up on Melvin Avenue in Catonsville, Maryland. In 1972 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater College and began what would be a 40 year career in Law Enforcement in 1971 as a patrol officer for the Staunton City Police Department in Stanton, Virginia. He moved back to his hometown of Catonsville in 1973 and began serving as a serving as a patrol officer for the Baltimore County Police Department (“BCPD”) at Wilken’s station in Catonsville, Maryland. In 1976 he began working in planning and research at BCPD headquarters where he remained for 18 years until being appointed the Office Manager for the Chief of BCPD in 1994 where he finished out his career having served as the Office Manager for three Chiefs. He retired as a lieutenant in 2010 after he was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (“IPF”).
IPF was the second of two significant, chronic health issues he would face in his life. In 1980 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (“MS”) and suffered extremely limited mobility for 6 months. He fought his way back and his illness went into remission with only a few relapses in his life. In March of 2011, Kirk was blessed with the gift of a new set of lungs. That gift added three precious years and took him on a journey where he was surrounded by the love, laughter and support of many family and friends, and by the caring and compassionate physicians and staff at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. In his 63 years, he was a courageous hero in all facets of his life. He truly lived his life to the fullest, with lots of humor thrown in and he will live on in our hearts forever.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Pulmonary Gift Fund at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Checks should be made payable to Johns Hopkins University with a notation in memory of Richard Kirk Higdon and mailed to
Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine
5200 Eastern Avenue
MFL Center Tower, Suite 356
Baltimore, MD 21224
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