Patrick J. Higgins died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism on Nov. 28. He was 50.

A licensed plumber, Higgins was president of P.J. Higgins & Associates in Frederick, Md. For the past 20 years his company has provided consulting services on plumbing codes, standards, product approval and regulatory approval to numerous industry companies and trade organizations.

Higgins had been chairman of the Main A112 Plumbing Materials and Equipment Committee for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for the past 18 years, and a member of ASME's Council of Codes and Standards for the past three years. Last summer, he assumed the chair of ASME's Board of Standardization, of which he had been a member for 10 years.

His firm participates extensively in the development of model and state plumbing codes and is liaison to numerous industry committees, including ASPE, ASSE and PHCC. He also authored many publications and wrote for various trade magazines, including PM back in the 1980s.

"Pat Higgins was one of the plumbing industry's most dedicated citizens," commented SHT editor Jim Olsztynski. "He made as many friends in this industry as anyone I've known. We will miss his upbeat personality and vibrant sense of humor."

Contributions in his name can be made to the ASSE Auxiliary Scholarship Fund, 901 Canterbury Rd. Suite A, Westlake, OH 44145, or to the Diabetes Foundation.