NEWPORT - On a beautiful August day in 1944 Donald H. Briggs was born, and he completed his journey on Earth on an equally beautiful day, August 1, 2020. Don was the second child of Louise Marion (Stanley) Briggs and Herbert William Briggs. He spent his formative years in Howland, graduating from Howland High School in 1962. He worked alongside his father, who was a contractor, from the time he was 10 years old. Two years after high school Don decided "pounding nails" was not for him so he enrolled in Husson College where he excelled as a student. His first professional job was with Ernst & Ernst, at the time one of the big 8 accounting firms, where he quickly rose and became a Certified Public Accountant. He worked as a CPA until 1985 when his family moved to Newport and Don joined his great friend John Amoroso at Bangor Wholesale Foods. Don's love of everything outdoors led to a brief sojourn into retail before he returned to his financial background. He retired from Irving Tanning in 2011 as Chief Financial Officer. During retirement, Don worked on his golf game, tinkered around the house, and absolutely enjoyed the PGA golf tournaments. As his health declined, Don continued to enjoy getting lost in a good book, keeping stats on who won which PGA event and the stats of the Patriots and other NFL teams--(after all...he was an accountant). He also enjoyed pampering his cats Phoebe and Sara, and surveying the wildlife in the majestic pines at Edenside. Don is survived by the love of his life and wife of 55 years, Jane Hatch Briggs; his children Julia (Samuel) Vandergrift of Huntsville, Alabama, Cynthia (Kevin) Kugell of Oxford, Robert (Diane) Briggs of Newport, and Reginald (Correen) Briggs of Ithaca, New York. He was Grampa Don to Joshua, Forrest, Julia, Dominic, Beau, Booker and Dashiell. He is also survived by sisters Carol Neal of Lincoln, and Marcia (Paul) Rioux of Mt. Dora, Florida; brother-in-law Dennis Hatch, Jr. of Zephyrhills, Florida; several nieces and nephews; and many close friends. Don will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, mentor and friend. We will miss his quick wit, easy laugh and his insatiable love of Jane's baked treats. A celebration of life is planned for Wednesday August 12, 2020 at J.W. Parks Golf Course, 382 Hartland Ave., Pittsfield ME beginning at 11:00 A.M. Due to COVID-19 requirements, masks and social distancing are requested. Committal services will be private and at the family's convenience. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Newport Cultural Center Book Fund, 154 Main St, Newport ME, 04953, or to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Crosby & Neal, Newport.