1936 – 1998 (January 11)
Robert Paul Hickey was born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1936, one of two sons and one daughter of Francis Hickey and Hannah Sullivan. He was baptized on December 6, 1936 in Saint Denis Church, Havertown, Pa. and received his early education at Saint Denis Grammar School. After graduating from West Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1954, he attended Villanova University and Saint Joseph College. Robert lived in central Pennsylvania for twenty-two years, and for most of these years he was an industrial engineer at Standard Steel Corporation. He was quality control manager for the Tappan Company, where he used his accounting and credit analysis skills.
In March, 1987, he entered the Province’s pre-novitiate program at Saint Augustine Friary, Villanova. After a year as a novice at Racine, Wisconsin, he professed simple vows on August 6, 1988 and on September 7, 1991, solemn vows. He studied theology at the Washington Theological Union in Washington, D.C. Prior to his ordination Bob studied Spanish in Cuernavaca, Mexico, and spent time in the Augustinian missions in Peru. On September 20, 1992, he was ordained to the priesthood at Saint Denis Church, Ardmore, by Bishop Francis Murphy, auxiliary of Baltimore, Md.
On November 3, 1992, Father Hickey was assigned to Saint Mary Parish, Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1995, he was transferred to the community of Austin Friars in Silver Spring, Maryland, where he worked in hispanic ministry, counseled prisoners, and preached on weekends for the organization Food For The Poor. On November 27, 1996, Ferdinand Mahfood, founder and president of Food For The Poor wrote the following to Father Hickey. “I want you to know that I am deeply grateful for the part you play in sustaining and guiding our organization. Your role as a speaker is very important to Food For The Poor, and I am proud to share the results of our ministry with you.”
On January 11, 1998, Father Hickey died suddenly in Washington, DC., at the age of 61. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at Saint Denis Church, Havertown, Pa., followed by burial in Saint Denis Cemetery.
