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We would like to reflect on the life of our friend and colleague, Maureen Higgins, who died in Omaha on Nov. 19, 2002. Maureen spent the last 12 of her 40 years fighting Hodgkin's lymphoma. She received the diagnosis as an NIH postdoctoral fellow at Boys Town National Research Hospital and continued to work tirelessly as a researcher, clinician, and teacher through chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and radiation treatments. Maureen epitomized the ASHA ideal of a scholar-clinician. She began her career as the valedictorian and commencement speaker of her class at Syracuse University. Her research was published in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals; she was the principal investigator of three NIDCD grants and the ASHA New Investigator award; she was an associate editor for speech of JSLHR; and she served as a regular grant reviewer for NIDCD. At the same time, Maureen was a dedicated clinician who provided services in the area of voice for adults and children and was a tireless advocate for patients' rights. We knew her as a warm and concerned friend, a model of grace and courage, and a dedicated professional who continued running her laboratory, editing articles, and participating in NIH reviews from her bed until she died. Maureen maintained a wonderful personal life with her devoted husband, Jeff Hicks, and her two dogs. Maureen wanted to leave a legacy and she has done that though her innovative articles on speech production in children and adults and through friends and colleagues who will always remember her.
Arlene Carney
Minneapolis, MN
Susan Nittrouer
Logan, UT
Kim Fisher
Evanston, IL
John Saxman
New York, NY
Michael Gorga
Walt Jesteadt
Omaha, NE
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