Kenneth G. Figgins

On September 11, 2023, Kenneth Gerard Figgins passed away after complications from melanoma.

Ken was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts on July 1, 1936 and grew up on Gallavin Blvd. He attended Boston Tech High School in Roxbury. Ken had four siblings; Charles, Leland, Virginia and Daniel.

Ken’s first summer was spent in a camper on a Narragansett beach before the state stepped in and “eminent domained” the land for Scarborough State Beach in 1936-1937. His family relocated to Breakwater Village and spent close to 20 summers in a cottage that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.

Ken’s father, Leland Figgins was born in Ludington, Michigan on the western shore of Lake Michigan on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. He joined the Navy and was stationed in Boston, Massachusetts. Leland became an engineer at a petroleum company in Revere, Mass. On weekends he traveled south to the Narragansett shoreline to be with his family. In 1948, at the age of 18, Ken and his father became permanent residents of South Kingstown where Ken completed his remaining high school years and took care of his elderly father for many years during that time. He was pre-deceased by his mother Veronica (Faye) Figgins.

One of Ken’s first jobs was at Aunt Carrie’s where he met his future wife Peace Dale native Ellen Gail Beatrice. A few years later the two were married and bought their first house in Pt Judith before relocating to their residence on Mumford Road in Narragansett.

Ken first worked at Electric Boat in Groton, Ct and then Brown & Sharpe in Rhode Island before becoming an employee of the United States Postal Service, where he worked up the chain from clerk to several postmaster positions in his 30 years of service.

Ken and Gail had four children and throughout their raising Ken worked day and night to provide for his wife and children. Kevin, David, Gregg and Tracy. After the loss of his wife Gail at 63 years Ken became a snowbird and traveled between Narragansett and Englewood ,Florida for many years. After over 20 years in Florida, he again became a full time Narragansett resident in 2014.

Ken will be greatly missed by his many lifelong friends, his children, son in law Doug Fisher and daughter in law Selena Millard, grandchildren Tracy (Figgins) Carlson & Andy Carlson, Amanda Figgins & Rui Carvalho, Andrew Figgins, Sarah Figgins & Andrew Horowitz, Bryan Figgins and great grandchildren, Hanna Bongiovanni, Emma & Jakob Carlson and Landon & Sydney Carvalho. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Gail, son Gregg and his wife Barbara (Schindler) Figgins and daughter in law Beverly (Messier) Bongiovanni. His love, generosity and kindness will shine forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved him.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday, September 15, 2023 at 10:00 am in St. Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St., Narragansett. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale. Visiting hours will be Thursday, September 14, 2023 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield.