Armour College of Engineering Professor Emeritus Geoffrey Higgins passed away on January 25 at his home in Winnetka, Ill. He was 84. He joined Illinois Institute of Technology in 1969 when he moved with his family to the United States from England for a planned three year stay. Higgins decided to remain in his faculty position at Illinois Tech, where he later became Dean of the Graduate school. His expertise was in physical metallurgy and he focused his research on phase coarsening phenomena. In 1979 he won the Literary Award from the American Nuclear Society, with B. J. Wrona, J. T. A Roberts, and  T. M. Galvin.

Geoff is survived by his brother David; his wife, Heather Higgins; five children: Andrew, (Martha) Jacqueline, (Richard) Mark, (Susan) Jill, (Barry) and Peter; and eight grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 29 at 3 p.m. at Wm. H. Scott Funeral Home, 1100 Greenleaf Ave., Wilmette, Ill.