Former Summit Editor-in-Chief passes at age 40

By Maddi Achtyl

Former Summit Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Briggs, ‘08, died September 12 surrounded by her family at her Carver, Massachusetts home from complications due to Cystic Fibrosis. She was 40.

Briggs, who was a Communication major and Journalism minor, underwent two separate lung transplants, extending her life by decades.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disorder that affects the mucus gland, causing thick sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and other organs. There is no cure for CF, only treatments to help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life.

Three months after Briggs’ first double lung transplant in her early 20s, Briggs walked at her 2008 graduation with the rest of her class. Briggs served as Editor-in-Chief of The Summit for one semester in 2007.

She went on to get her master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State University. After graduating from Stonehill, she worked as a journalist for Norwood Community Newspaper and AOL Patch, but her true passion was teaching. She left journalism and obtained her master’s degree in education from Bridgewater State University and returned to her high school, Sacred Heart High School, to become an English teacher.

During her time at Sacred Heart High School, she served as the school's newspaper faculty supervisor.

Later in her life, she underwent a second successful double lung transplant. Both of her double lung transplants were done by Dr. Joe Pilewski at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Her family noted in her obituary that Briggs was a strong advocate in the Boston area for people with CF. She was a dedicated contributor to make the CF Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital an even better experience for her community, her family noted.

Information about visitation and funeral services can be found here