Dale Edward Briggs

Briggs, Dale Edward completed his earthly faith journey and departed for his eternal home on March 17, 2016. Dale was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 1930, to Alfred Ross Briggs and Olinda Theisen Briggs in Alton, Illinois. The family moved to Pontiac, Michigan in March 1931. He attended public schools and graduated from Pontiac Senior High School in January 1948. Dale was accepted into the Navy Reserved Officers Training Corp and attended the University of Louisville majoring in Chemical Engineering. He graduated on June 7, 1953 and was commissioned an Ensign, USN and assigned to the USS Stoddard DD566. While in undergraduate school, Dale ran varsity track and cross-country and served on the student government where he met his wife to be, Nancy McCoy. They were married on January 24, 1953 at Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Louisville Kentucky. The U.S. Navy transferred Dale to the University of Michigan NROTC Unit in July 1955. He taught the freshman class for two years and completed active duty in July 1957 and transferred to U.S. Naval Reserve Research Unit 9-3 where he rose to Commander, USNR and retired in 1979. Dale began graduate school in Chemical Engineering in 1957 to work on a PhD. He was appointed as an Instructor in 1961 and an Assistant Professor in 1968. He served on the faculty until May 31, 1999 when he retired as Professor Emeritus. Professor Briggs had a long record of service to the University. It included in part: Member, University Senate Assembly, 1982-1987; Member SACUA, 1984-1987; Chief Marshal for University Events, 1991-1999; Member, Board of Control of Intercollegiate Athletics, 1994-1998. Major awards include: University of Michigan Distinguished Service Award for Junior Faculty, 1969; Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Teacher Award, 1982; College of Engineering Outstanding Teaching Award, 1990; and School of Music, Theatre and Dance Hall of Fame Award, 2016. Dale was moved on September 9, 1988 to start The Master’s Flowers business where he donated flowers to the First Presbyterian Church, the Veterans Hospital, the College of Engineering and the School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Dale served as a lay chaplain at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital in the pre-surgery and intensive care wards from 1999 until 2007. He taught Bible classes at the Washtenaw County Jail from 2007 until December 2015, and served on more than 100 Doctor of Musical Arts committees. Dale and his wife Nancy established the Dale and Nancy Briggs Chamber Music Endowed Enrichment Fund in 2004. Earnings from the endowment have sponsored the School of Music, Theater and Dance Dale and Nancy Briggs Chamber Music Competition since 2014.

Dale is survived by his wife Nancy, daughter Susan Clair, son Stephen, sister Doris Mason, grandchildren Andrea Clair Epp (Travis), Geoffrey Clair (Lacey), Allison Clair Marrero (Edwin), William Clair (Heather) and great-grandson, Jaxon Howard Epp. Along with Dale’s parents, sister Marilyn Ferguson and son-in-law Howard Clair preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church at 2:00 pm on March 23, 2016. Memorial donations may be given to the First Presbyterian Church Resident Minister Endowment. Arrangements under the direction of Muehlig Funeral Chapel, Ann Arbor, MI.