John Walker Briggs

John W. Briggs March 21, 1937 February 10, 2012 John Walker Briggs, 74, passed away at home on Friday, February 10, where he had been cared for by his family, close friends and extended family of the Buckingham/Kensington neighborhood. Born to Raymond and Katharyn Briggs, March 21, 1937 in Warsaw, NY, John grew up in Mt. Morris, NY and spent many happy summers boating and skiing on Conesus Lake where he also worked as a swimming instructor. John had a life-long love for sports, participating in high school football, basketball and track as well as intercollegiate football and lacrosse at Hobart College. He enjoyed running, bicycling and canoeing in later years. He was an avid fan of Syracuse and OCC sports; mens and womens. He graduated Hobart College, B.A., 1960, history and psychology; Johns Hopkins University, M.A.T., 1961, education and history and the University of Minnesota, Ph.D., 1972, history. John had a keen interest in and knowledge of the social history of immigration, serving as a research assistant at the Center for Immigration Studies at the University of Minnesota, then as a research specialist for the U.S. Office of Education and Research Project, Immigration, Education and Social Change. He was an assistant professor of education and history at the University of Rochester from 1970 to 1978. In 1978 he published the book An Italian Passage: Immigrants to Three American Cities, 1890-1930 from Yale University Press. He was a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1978-79. He joined the faculty at Syracuse University as associate professor of history and education in 1978, where he remained until his retirement. At Syracuse, he served as Chair of the Cultural Foundations of Education Department from 2002 to 2007and as coordinator of the Social Studies Education Program from 1992 to 2007. He was research historian for the Rhode Island School of Design exhibition, The Tirrochi Collection and Project, 2002. He received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for work on rural school consolidation, an aspect of his long-term research interest in rural educational history. He did extensive research on school consolidation in the northern New York community of Chazy. He remained active throughout his career as advisor, lecturer, author and reviewer of professional articles and publications on immigration. Ever the craftsman, John lovingly restored two homes, one in Syracuse and one on Hatch Lake. He relished time out-of- doors and in the company of all creatures. He was ever curious and reflective, shared generously of his many talents and amused us often with his subtle wit. The quiet force behind our family, he was a present and willing participant in his own life and in the lives of those he loved. John is survived by his wife Kathie; daughter Marissa (Arthur Fuchs) grandchildren Arthur, Adele and Adam, Buffalo; daughter Vania Briggs Kasper (John Kasper) grandchildren Sophia and Raymond of Brooklyn; daughter Kiersten King (David Blackett) Syracuse; son Nicholas King, Syracuse; sister Nancy Briggs Rider (Christopher) Livonia, NY; Niece Sarah Welch Lauder (Thomas) grand nieces Katharyn and Madilene, Plantation FL; and first cousin Mary Stewart Kenny and her son, Tony Kenny of Howard, NY. There will be no calling hours. The family has requested that you join them to celebrate Johns life at 5 PM on his birthday, Wednesday March 21, 2012 at Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University campus. Refreshments afterward in the Noble Room. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Regional Oncology Center at Upstate University Hospital, 750 East Adams Street, CAB 326, Syracuse, NY 13210 or Wanderers Rest Humane Association, 7138 Sutherland Drive, P.O. Box 535, Canastota, NY 13032

John Walker Briggs

March 21, 1937 - February 10, 2012