Ray grew up in Saco. A member of the Class of 1948 at Thornton Academy, he was class president his senior year.
He graduated in 1952 from Bowdoin College with an A.B. in English, and in 1953 from Harvard University with a master of arts in teaching. He taught at Scituate High School in Scituate, Massachusetts, and Bridgewater State College in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, before entering the doctoral program in English at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1961.
He taught Medieval English literature, the History of the English Language, and English as a Second Language for Foreign Students in the English Department at Boston College for over 40 years, retiring in 2000.
In 2011, he moved to Saco to an independent living cottage at Atlantic Heights. He enjoyed the Atlantic Heights Cottage residents community, especially the Monday morning Men’s Discussion Group.
Raymond is survived by: his wife of 15 years, Cynthia Bland-Biggar, who currently serves as Pastor of the Standish Congregational Church, UCC in Standish; by sons, Robert Biggar (Angela) of Setauket, New York, and James Biggar (Stephanie Boutin) of Arlington, Massachusetts; by his grandchildren, Andrew, Jeremy, Talia, and Emily Biggar; and by three stepchildren from his first marriage, Michael Herz (Jean Roiphe), Jonathan Herz (Carolyn), and Margaret Albright (John) and their families. He is also survived by: his sister, Ruth B. Claypool of Acton, Massachusetts; by several nieces; a nephew; and eight step-grandchildren, Daniel, Zachary, Rachel Herz- Roiphe, Ethan and Seth Herz, Kate “Sam,” and Emma and Jake Albright.
He is preceded in death by: his brother, Robert Watson Biggar Jr. (Bob).
Ray will be sadly missed by his beloved Border Collie dog, Sophie (whom he walked daily until Friday, Sept. 25) and by his cat companion, Lily.
The Biggar family wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the excellent care provided by Dr. Kurt Ebrahim and nurse Danielle Bowen NPC and the staff at New England Center for Cancer Medicine; by nurse Cecile Roy, and other staff members at the Ambulatory Care Unit of Southern Maine Health Care Center; and by Hospice of Southern Maine.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Standish Congregational Church, UCC 25 Oak Hill Road, Standish. A graveside service will be held at the Biggar family plot in Laurel Hill Cemetery at 2 p.m. the same day. Dennett, Craig and Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main Street, Saco is in charge of the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ray’s memory to Thornton Academy, 438 Main St., Saco, ME 04072; Bowdoin College Scholarship, 4500 College Station, Brunswick, ME 04011; or to Standish Congregational Church, UCC, 25 Oak Hill Road, Standish, ME 04084.
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