Morton W. Briggs, 90, Was University Professor

Morton W. Briggs died in Middletown, Conn., on Sept. 25 at the age of 90. He was a summer resident on Hines Point in Vineyard Haven for 35 years.

Mr. Briggs was born in Millbrook, N.Y., in 1915 and was graduated from Cornell University in 1937. He continued his studies at the Sorbonne in Paris and obtained master's and doctoral degrees from Harvard University.

In 1943 he moved to Middletown and joined the Wesleyan University faculty, where he taught French language and literature for more than four decades. He was involved in many other academic and administrative matters.

Mr. Briggs was a good steward of his Connecticut community. He was active in the United Way, the American Red Cross, the Rotary Club and the the Church of the Holy Trinity.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathryn (Kay) of Middletown, and his sister, Elinor Sutherland of Millbrook, N.Y. He is also survived by three children, Christopher of Marlborough, N.H., Kirk of Vineyard Haven and his wife, Mary Vivian, and Kate Holmes and her husband, Josh, from Grand Junction, Colo; five grandchildren, Nick, Ila and Finn Briggs, Merlyn Ember and Riley Holmes; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross hurricane relief funds or to the Memorial Fund of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Middletown, Conn.