AUBURN — Roger Hodgkin Briggs, 87, died peacefully Monday, May 22, at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn, surrounded by his four daughters.

Born at home in Auburn on October 3, 1929, he was the son of the late Elmer L. and Ida (Hodgkin) Briggs. Roger graduated from Edward Little High School in 1947 and from Bates College in 1951 with a BA in sociology. Following graduation, he joined his father in the management of J.P. Hutchinson & Co., a long-established insurance agency, and continued to operate the business for many years after his father’s death. In 1955, he married Eileen Howard of Auburn and they were blessed with five daughters.

Roger was a member of the Ancient Brothers Lodge AF & AM in Auburn, Shriners International and Kora Temple in Lewiston where he was a part of the Chanters Unit, providing their piano accompaniment. He was a lifelong member of Court Street Baptist Church.

Roger was a talented piano player and as a young man he was a member of The Varsiteers, a popular swing band. He was an avid cribbage and bridge player and was often top winner in local senior citizen card circles. His daughters have fond memories of summers spent on Cobbosseecontee Lake, fall leaf peeping in the White Mountains and skiing at Lost Valley and Sugarloaf.

He is survived by his former wife, Eileen J. Paine of Auburn; their remaining daughters, Kelly Higgins of Poland, Kimberly Odishoo (Howard) of North Carolina; Krista McCormick (Christopher) of Cooper, and Kara Briggs of California; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Kate; and his sister, Frances Briggs Stinson.

Roger Hodgkin Briggs


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