The earthly journey of Calvin M. Briggs, 88, came to an end on May 24, 2015. He joins his dear wife and the love of his life, Dorothy Briggs, who pre-deceased him in 2013, shortly after their 62nd wedding anniversary. Born in Binghamton, Cal was pre-deceased by his parents, Ralph M. and Helen B. Briggs. He was also pre-deceased by Dorothy’s parents, Jennie and Peter Battaglini; Cal’s brother, Marshall D. Briggs and his sisters, Caroline Marsh, Elaine Arrelin and Adelaide Winters. Cal is survived by his son William Buckley Briggs, NYC and Ithaca; Mark D. and Bridget Briggs and their daughters Jennifer and Brittni and her husband John Paul Piser and their son Dominick, Newark, DE; Timothy A. and Sallie Briggs and their children Taylor and Timothy, Ocala, FL. He is also survived by his brothers Robert L. and wife Jean Briggs, Ralph Buckley Briggs, Lee Edwin and wife Pam Briggs and sisters Helga and husband Bob Larson, and Marilyn and husband Richard Evans, and their respective families. As were many men of his generation, Cal was a hard-working private man who never drew attention to himself and was motivated by his love of his family. He grew up primarily in West Endicott during the Depression and until his final days he could go house to house and block to block recalling his childhood friends who grew up with him in the 1930’s. His junior year at UE High School he met a girl in English class named Dorothy Battaglini who was destined to become his wife and mother of their three sons. After his family moved away from Endicott, Cal graduated from Binghamton North High School in 1945. Cal served in the US Army in WWII in France and was discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1947. Cal was employed by the Grand Union after the service, married Dorothy in 1951, and then worked at IBM Endicott for 33 years retiring in 1984. He and his family then opened a sports memorabilia store in Endicott (Briggs Card Corner) which they ran until 1992. He and Dorothy spent the next 15 years wintering in Florida. Cal was actively involved in the community as a former Town of Union Recreation Director, member of the IBM Board of Governors, member of the West Corners PTA where he received a lifetime PTA Membership Award, member of the Broome County Youth Commission, president of the West Corners Little League, member of the Broome County Republican Committee and an active member of the UE Wrestling Booster club. Cal was an old school “man’s man” who imparted his love of sports to his sons and he proudly recounted to anyone who would listen stories of attending such sporting events as the Rose Bowl, Super Bowl, World Series and NCAA Wrestling Championships with his sons. His love of sports lasted long after he had begun to be slowed down by various infirmities. Cal insisted carrying on as normal life as he could until final days. At his 88th Birthday Party thrown by his children, grand-children and great-grandson, upon all of whom the sun rose and set in Cal’s word view, at the family homestead on Day Hollow Rd less than a month from his death, Cal stepped up to the plate for his one last swing. Cal was a man of unimpeachable integrity, firm beliefs, and deep religious conviction. Now that his race has been run, he would want nothing more than simply to be remembered for what he was – a good man. Cal’s completion of this earthly mission leaves a gaping hole in the souls of many, particularly his sons, that can be scarcely fathomed. As Cal would insist, we must cherish his memory and remember the wonderful times we had, and as we complete OUR earthly missions in anticipation of the day we meet again, we would do well to emulate the life of this kind and generous man. The family would like to thank Dr. Kloss and Dr. Hsue for enabling Cal to live his last months with dignity.
Funeral Services will be held Friday 11 am from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, with the Reverend David Seaver officiating. Entombment will be in Riverhurst Cemetery, Endicott. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, Thursday from 4-8 pm. The family requests that any donation be sent in memory of Cal Briggs to the Castle Gardens Employee Appreciation Fund, (1715 Castle Gardens Rd., Vestal NY 13850) who provided superior care and loving support to Cal in the months he lived there after Dorothy’s passing.