James “Fred” Triggs, Jr.

JAMES “FRED” TRIGGS, JR. 86, son to Fred Sr. and Mary Triggs (both deceased), husband of 60 years to Carol (deceased), and father to 5 devoted daughters (Mary, Sally, Lisa, Meg, and his Italian daughter Daniela Roggero) passed from this life in to eternity on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

In 1955, Fred graduated from the University of Notre Dame (and was a passionate “Domer” thereafter) with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He worked in this field for the next 61 years as a business owner, inventor, consultant, and mentor.  In 1984, he was named President of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Cleveland, and in 1997 was recognized as an “Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Year” by ASCE.  Although he worked daily through his 82^nd year, he believed that “if you love what you do, you don’t ‘work’ a day in your life.”

Fred was a kind, loving husband to Carol, a dedicated, patient and fun father to his 5 girls and their husbands, and a proud, involved, and very funny gramps to 8 grandchildren and 1 (almost 2) great grandchildren.

As an adventurous soul, Fred traveled extensively for both work and pleasure. He wrote volumes of essays about the wonders of life, exercised religiously well in to his eighties, fed stray cats for years, walked the Camino de Santiago at age 82, went to Mass and took communion faithfully, painted beautifully with watercolors, greeted every single human being with a smile, and followed his heart without reservation.  He knew no other way than to be completely genuine, and to the world’s benefit, his true self was exceptionally interesting, intelligent, generous, creative and kind.

Fred will be dearly missed by his family and friends, and by an incredible group of caregivers who helped him move gracefully through his final years.  Ultimately, Fred left life as he lived it, with tenacity and patience, and surrounded by love.

In order to promote scientists and engineers around the world, donations may be made in Fred’s name to Hope for Kabingo, a charity close to Fred and Carol’s hearts, at hopeforkabingo.org. The charity’s latest mission is to build a science building to educate underpriviledged, but dedicated students in Kabingo, Uganda.

The Triggs family will receive guests on Monday, August 26 at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME, 4600 MAYFIELD RD., SOUTH EUCLID FROM 4 – 8 PM. Fred’s Funeral Mass will be at St. Paschal Baylon Catholic Church, 5381 Wilson Mills Rd, Highland Heights at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 27^th.   He will then be buried at All Souls Cemetery in Chardon. On-line obituary and guestbook at www.DeJohnCares.com