Dr. Briggs, 93, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon, June 27th, with his beloved wife of 69 years, Mary, at his side. His early years were spent in Ypsilanti where he was born to Anna Ruth (Wenderlein) and Arthur Briggs on November 17, 1928. He spent his grade school years in a 2 room school house in Hamburg, Michigan under the tutelage of his favorite Aunt Helen. Don graduated from Dearborn High School where he discovered his love of and talent for baseball. Between scholarships and part time jobs, Don continued his education and earned his undergraduate and Doctorate of Dentistry degrees at the University of Michigan. While in dental school, Don met the love of his life, a young co-ed, Mary Theresa Gratzer, on a blind date which was destined to lead to marriage in 1953.
After completing his medical degree, Don served in the US Navy as a LTjg at Great Lakes Naval Base from 1954-1956 as the dental instructor in the Dental Technician School where he also played as a MVP on the Navy baseball team. During those years, the young couple were blessed with two healthy and active boys, Donnie and Joey. After the navy, the young family of 4 settled in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (Mary’s home town) where Don enjoyed his practice and patients for 54 happy years. He was not your run-of-the-mill dentist. Don took time and special care of his patients. It was not uncommon for him to go on a house call or to answer a ringing phone in the middle of the night. He truly went above and beyond.
In his early years, Don played on several semi-professional baseball teams and carried that love and knowledge of the game into mentoring his own two sons and by coaching many of their baseball teams throughout the years. Baseball was truly one of the family’s joys, as was skiing, where many happy family days were spent on snow packed hills in Northern Michigan. If it had to do with family, Don was there, ready to go, ready to have fun and ready to dive in and play!
Don was dedicated to his community. He served as president of the Trombly PTA, headed up school millage drives, was a member of the Jaycees, the Grosse Pointe Rotary, the Seniors Men’s Club and was a member of the Detroit Country Club.
Tennis with an active and lively group of close friends later became a major form of recreation for Don and Mary who also enjoyed many peaceful days of fly fishing together in Michigan and Montana. Birdwatching and hunting with his yellow lab, Wongo, were also favorite avocations. Don shared his love of fly fishing with his sons and grandsons, which turned into annual fishing trips to Montana that will always hold a special place in the Briggs men’s hearts.
Don was a man of extraordinary kindness and understanding. He was always willing to offer a word of support and encouragement. Don was a man of patience and grace. He didn’t light up a room – his was a quiet presence. He was the one who made the humorously insightful remark that put things into perspective. He was a man of integrity without pretensions – gentle and strong. And he will be forever loved and missed.
Don is survived by his wife Mary, his two sons Don (Deborah) and Joe (Mira), his four grandchildren Amalia, Donald, Joseph and Lindsey and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sharon Klamerus and brother Patrick Briggs.
A celebration of life took place Saturday, July 2, at The War Memorial, Grosse Pointe Farms.
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