On Sunday, March 3, 2024, Richard Albert Briggs, affectionately known as “Briggs,” passed away at age eighty-one surrounded by close family friends.

Briggs was born in Monroe, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1942. He was the second of five children born to Albert and Dorothy Briggs. He came from a small farm town and graduated from Albany High School in 1959. Briggs attended Wisconsin State University at Platteville, and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1967. After college, Briggs ventured outside Wisconsin and went to Washington State to work for the Washington Department of Transportation (DOT). In 1971, he made the big move north to Alaska and made it his home for over 50 years.

While in Alaska, Briggs continued his career as an engineer with the Alaska DOT. He loved the work he did and enjoyed the many places it took him throughout the state. He especially loved the people he worked with. His co-workers, several of whom remained longtime friends, remember Briggs as being a person who treated others with kindness, respect, and fairness. His former employees remember him as a congenial boss who respected all persons and created a positive work environment.

Among his close circle of friends, Briggs was known as “Our Briggs” or “Uncle Briggies,” and was considered to be a member of the family. Briggs’ most enduring qualities were his genuine care and concern for his family and friends. You could always count on Briggs. Whenever there was a request for help, Briggs would do whatever he could to lend a hand. Whenever there was a special occasion to celebrate, he would be there to show support, even if it meant boarding a plane to a destination thousands of miles away. If you knew Briggs, you also knew that he would double or triple check the logistics of any special event he attended; simply “showing up” and “being there” were very important to Briggs.

For holiday gatherings, Briggs often arrived early with a bottle of Bailey’s Irish Cream, Kahlua, or delicious Wisconsin cheese to share. Whenever he would see you, he would enthusiastically say, “Hey, there! What’s going on?” or “What’s the good word?” If the news you provided was even remotely exciting, it would always be met with a sweet smile and a response of “Wow! That’s pretty neat!” Briggs just enjoyed being in the company of people. When he wasn’t golfing with buddies, hanging out at the Moose Lodge, attending UAA basketball and volleyball games, or going to the Senior Center, he was taking trips to California, Las Vegas, Portland, Washington, and Wisconsin to visit family and friends. Briggs had an unwavering loyalty to the people he cared about and to the things he enjoyed doing in his daily life. One of Briggs’ favorite pastimes was going to the same restaurant and eating the same exact meal–no order required, because as the restaurant’s most loyal patron, staff always knew to give Briggs “the usual.” Briggs would sometimes follow his meal by visiting a local blood bank to donate blood, which he did regularly because he was a strong believer in helping others out where you could.

Regarding UAA athletics, there was no bigger fan than Briggs. He almost never missed a basketball or volleyball game in Anchorage, and even traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska, to cheer on the Seawolves. A proud booster of UAA athletics, some of Briggs’ most prized possessions were the thank you cards he received from UAA athletes, who enthusiastically thanked Briggs for his yearly generosity to their programs. The night before his passing, he was happy to hear the women’s basketball team won their game in overtime and the men’s team also notched a “W.”

The world was a better place for having Briggs in it. He will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him. His sweet nature, distinct laugh, positive outlook, kindness, and straw golfing hat will be remembered. Briggs’ memory will live on with his friends and his family, including his siblings, Delores, Glenda, Bob (Barb), and Gary (Debra), nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as his Alaska family: Bill Iverson, Jackie Iverson, and their children.

Briggs was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Dorothy, and his brother-in-law, Jim Merrick. At Briggs’ request, he was laid to rest next to his mother and father at Gap Church Cemetery in Albany, Wisconsin.

Briggs enjoyed the simple things in life, and in his memory, his friends ask that you do the same. Go ahead and eat ice cream, discuss the local news, cheer on your favorite team, keep fit, visit the golf course, catch a show at the theatre, watch fireworks on New Year’s, and above all, spend time with the people you care about. For the friends and family who were unable to say their final goodbyes to Briggs, please know that he most likely would have said, “Thank you, thank you, thank you for your friendship! I really appreciate it!” The thing about Briggs is that he would mean it. He would mean it with all his heart. 

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