Ed Harrow
01-21-2003, 10:06 PM
How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see…
Once this was sung for me, and at best I could stumble along, barely able to read the words then. Today it was sung for Henry W Diggs, no finer gentleman ever walked the planet, and no, I didn’t do any better, if anything worse.
NORWOOD - Henry W. Diggs, 96, who summered on Martha's Vineyard, died unexpectedly Wednesday at Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
He was the husband of the late Irma U. (Thompson) Diggs.
Mr. Diggs was a lifelong resident of Norwood, living his entire life in his family home. He and his relatives were the first African Americans to settle in Norwood. After graduating from Norwood High School in 1924, he was employed by the Norwood Press and later also worked at the Wellesley Press and Codex Book Co.
He attended Wentworth Institute. During World War II, he served as a radio repairman for the Army Signal Corps. He was active in town government and served as the oldest locally-elected black official in the state when he was chairman of the Norwood School Committee. He also served on building committees for Norwood schools and helped design Blue Hill Regional High School.
He was honored for mentoring students when he was inducted into the Fitchburg State College chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau, the national academic honor society for industrial technology. He was also the longest serving Norwood town meeting member.
Mr. Diggs was a member of the Rotary Club and Elks Lodge No. 1124, with whom he sang at nursing homes. He enjoyed traveling and was a Sea Scout leader, a ham radio operator. In his retirement, he became a cabinet-maker and woodworker.
Surviving are two daughters, Judith E. Potter of Brookline and Washington, D.C., and Jacqueline C. Diggs of Framingham and Oak Bluffs; a brother, Charles of Dorchester; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Church in Norwood. Visiting hours will start at 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; or the Martha's Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; or the Norwood High School Scholarship Foundation, c/o Norwood High School, Nichols Street, Norwood, MA 02062.
Finast Kind. The world is a smaller place for his passing, but a better place for his journey.
Once this was sung for me, and at best I could stumble along, barely able to read the words then. Today it was sung for Henry W Diggs, no finer gentleman ever walked the planet, and no, I didn’t do any better, if anything worse.
NORWOOD - Henry W. Diggs, 96, who summered on Martha's Vineyard, died unexpectedly Wednesday at Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
He was the husband of the late Irma U. (Thompson) Diggs.
Mr. Diggs was a lifelong resident of Norwood, living his entire life in his family home. He and his relatives were the first African Americans to settle in Norwood. After graduating from Norwood High School in 1924, he was employed by the Norwood Press and later also worked at the Wellesley Press and Codex Book Co.
He attended Wentworth Institute. During World War II, he served as a radio repairman for the Army Signal Corps. He was active in town government and served as the oldest locally-elected black official in the state when he was chairman of the Norwood School Committee. He also served on building committees for Norwood schools and helped design Blue Hill Regional High School.
He was honored for mentoring students when he was inducted into the Fitchburg State College chapter of Epsilon Pi Tau, the national academic honor society for industrial technology. He was also the longest serving Norwood town meeting member.
Mr. Diggs was a member of the Rotary Club and Elks Lodge No. 1124, with whom he sang at nursing homes. He enjoyed traveling and was a Sea Scout leader, a ham radio operator. In his retirement, he became a cabinet-maker and woodworker.
Surviving are two daughters, Judith E. Potter of Brookline and Washington, D.C., and Jacqueline C. Diggs of Framingham and Oak Bluffs; a brother, Charles of Dorchester; two granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and several nieces and nephews.
A celebration of his life will be held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the United Church in Norwood. Visiting hours will start at 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hospice of Martha's Vineyard, P.O. Box 2549, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; or the Martha's Vineyard Hospital, P.O. Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557; or the Norwood High School Scholarship Foundation, c/o Norwood High School, Nichols Street, Norwood, MA 02062.
Finast Kind. The world is a smaller place for his passing, but a better place for his journey.