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Walter Briggs III, 77, Stockbroker, Politican, Of Wilton

NORWALK, Conn. – Walter Owen Briggs III, a former Norwalk mayoral candidate, died Nov. 24 at Norwalk Hospital after suffering a stroke. He was 77.

A former chairman of the Norwalk City Planning Commission, Briggs ran for mayor in 2007 against Richard Moccia. He was a resident of Wilton since 2009

Born Jan. 27, 1935, in Detroit, Mich., he was the son of Laura and Walter "Spike" Briggs, president and general manager of the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club. Briggs attended Canterbury School in New Milford, Conn., and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and economics from Lehigh University while serving in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Upon graduation, he worked in marketing and advertising but later found his life's work as a stock broker for more than 40 years. Starting at Bache and Company in Detroit, he later moved on to Janney Montgomery and Scott as vice president of investments. Most recently, he worked at Ameriprise Financial Services.

Briggs was also active in politics, serving as chair of the Michigan Young Republicans, zoning commissioner and mayor of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Later in life, he became active in the Democratic Party and served in politics in Norwalk.

He most recently served on the advisory council of The Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County and was a member of St. Paul's on the Green Episcopal Church in Norwalk.

An avid baseball and sports fan throughout his life, Briggs became a competitive swimmer as a teenager. He later enjoying sailing, tennis and especially golf as well as coaching several of his sons' little league teams.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gwen Briggs; eight children, Walter IV (Andrea), Lois (Terry) Swartzell, Laura (Jon) Knowles, Harvey (Lisa), Grace, Charles (Lynn), Christopher (Carlin) and Philip (Heide); two brothers, Basil M. “Mickey” Briggs and James R. Briggs; and 22 grandchildren.

Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Hoyt-Cognetta Funeral Home in Norwalk. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's on the Green Episcopal Church.

Memorial donations may be made to the Seabury Academy of Music & the Arts, 60 East Ave., Norwalk, CT 06851, or The Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County.

 

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