In memory of

David Ronald Hickey

David Ronald Hickey passed peacefully on November 18, 2020 in North York, Ontario. Ron is survived by his brother, Allen Parker Hickey, his children Carolyn (and Robert) Sprague, Kristine Koken, Peter (and Suzan) Koken, Robert Reid (and Louisa) Koken, and David Bruce (and Karen) Koken, along with children including Parker Sprague, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Ron was born in 1928 to Hazel and Parker Hickey in Montreal, who raised a family of four boys (Bruce, Allen, Ron and Eric) in their duplex. An accomplished athlete and student, he ran track at Bishop’s College and played halfback for several years at McGill University, after which he enjoyed vigorous games of squash and was a lifelong downhill skier. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from McGill in 1950 and a Master’s degree in Petroleum Processing from the University of Tulsa in 1953. Graduate school took a bit longer due to his discovery of bridge, which became a lifelong passion. He met his first wife, Frances Mitchell Hickey, at U of T, with whom he had two girls, Alison Diane Hickey (who passed in November 2019) and Carolyn. Ron enjoyed a rewarding career in the oil industry. He began with helping to bring Fina’s new Pointe-Aux-Trembles refinery online. After that he moved to Fina’s office in Place Ville Marie, Montreal. When that became routine, he went back to school and earned a gold medal from McGill for being top in Honours Math & Physics for the graduating class of 1963. He returned to work for Fina and eventually moved to their headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. In 1980 he was joined in Calgary by his second wife, Joan Reid Hickey, where they enjoyed their home perched on Fish Creek with a view of the Rocky Mountains. Ron and Joan moved to Ontario in 2010. He is remembered for his fondness of red wines, Canadian Club, gourmet meals, keeping meticulous football statistics, and travel, but mostly for his kindness, gracious accommodation to challenges, appreciation of others, generosity, loyalty, and integrity.

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Krista Samborsky (Director of Resident and Family Relations)

Entered November 30, 2020 from 147 Elder Street

Ron joined our 147 Elder Street community in October 2019. I was privileged to be the first to meet him from our team. I instantly knew that 147 Elder Street was going to be made a better place by the presence of this warm, gentle and respectful man.

Ron slowly and in his own way came to make Elder his home. As he got to know us, we got to know him.

Carolyn expressed to me that she wanted her father to be somewhere he would be loved and hear words of affirmation and kindness. If she could not be with him everyday, she wanted him to still feel love. At Elder we strive to provide this environment for every resident, but with Ron there was absolutely no effort required. It became very evident, very quickly that everyone at Elder could not, not love Ron!

Ron’s smile and big, bright blue eyes filled Elder with a warm gentle energy. Our man in blue; he loved everything blue and we loved him for it! Ron enjoyed exercise, card playing, cross words, receiving his daily newspaper and every single music concert and music therapy session.

I applaud Carolyn for her dedication to her father. It is not easy being a family caregiver to an individual with dementia and it is harder still to do so from a distance. Carolyn’s idea of setting up an Echo Show so she and her father could have daily morning chats allowed them to stay connected regardless of the distance.

When you would approach Ron he would give you the biggest, brightest smile and say “Yes dear, of course”, but it was at the sight of Carolyn that his whole being lit up. I was so honoured that I was able to witness this. Even through the Echo Show, their love and bond was palpable.

Erica, one of our recreationists, asked me to share her memories of Ron with you today:
Ron was a very kind and sweet man. My favourite memories of Ron are working on his crossword games. He was so brilliant at them and Sudoku. I also loved how he would randomly sing along to his favorite songs that would come up during sing-a-long or a concert. We shared a love for Montreal and he was always comforted and happy knowing that Carolyn, his daughter, was looking after him.

In conclusion, I would like to thank Carolyn for inviting me to speak today and for choosing Elder. I know that I speak on behalf of the whole team when I say that it was our great honour to have Ron be a part of 147 Elder Street.

We will miss Ron and those gentle big blue eyes.

Thank you

In memory of

David Ronald Hickey

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Krista Samborsky (Director of Resident and Family Relations)

Entered November 30, 2020 from 147 Elder Street

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In memory of

David Ronald Hickey

Guestbook (1 of 1)

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Krista Samborsky (Director of Resident and Family Relations)

Entered November 30, 2020 from 147 Elder Street

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Guestbook

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