Dr. Dennis Phillip Biggie, 65, of South Portland, Maine, passed away on March 6th, 2023, after a long illness which he handled with grace and humor.
Dennis was born on January 1st, 1958 to Connor and Caroline in Melrose, Massachusetts. After graduating as valedictorian of Malden Catholic High School in 1976, he went on to study religion and philosophy at Dartmouth College, becoming one of the college’s first converts to Judaism. Dennis lived in Israel before returning to his intellectual pursuits at John Hopkins University, where he received a doctorate in philosophy. Choosing to stay near family, he taught philosophy at the University of Southern Maine, St. Joseph’s College, and the University of New Hampshire. He always prioritized helping others and was heavily involved with union organizing for part-time faculty in the University of Maine system, eventually becoming president of the local AFT branch. He was consistently involved with the Maine Democratic party and the Maine People’s Alliance. He turned many of his own personal struggles and challenges into opportunities for supporting others. He had a gift for charming those around him, a wry sense of humor, and a love of film, books, and music. He could offer astute critiques when warranted, but also kindness and empathy when needed.
Dennis’s pride was his three children, who he loved dearly.
Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Connor and Caroline. He is survived by his sister, Carolyn, his brother Joe, his daughter Shiraz, and his sons Gilead and Harel.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Milestone Recovery Foundation. https://milestone-recovery.org/donate.
A graveside service was held at Mt. Sinai Cemetery, 159 Hicks Street, Portland ME, 04103 at 1:00PM on Wednesday, March 8th 2023.
Click here to view the service