January 11 is the anniversary of Robert P. Hickey.

Robert Paul Hickey was born in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1936, to Francis Hickey and Hannah (Sullivan) Hickey. He was baptized on December 6, 1936 in St. Denis Church, Havertown, Pa. and received his early education at St. Denis Grammar school. After graduating from West Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1954, he attended Villanova University and St. Joseph College. Bob lived in central Pennsylvania for twenty-two years, most of which he spent as 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 Bob entered the pre-novitiate program of the Order of St. Augustine at St. Augustine Friary, Villanova. After a year of novitiate at Racine, Wisconsin, he professed first vows on August 6, 1988 and on September 7, 1991 professed 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 with the Augustinian missionaries in Peru. On September 20, 1992, Bob was ordained to the priesthood at St. Denis Church in Ardmore, Pa., by P. Francis Murphy, auxiliary of Baltimore, Md.

On November 3, 1992, Father Hickey was assigned to Saint Mary Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1995, he was transferred to the community of Austin Friars in Silver Spring, Maryland. In the Washington, DC area he worked in the 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 suddenly died in Washington, DC. The Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at Saint Denis Church, Havertown, Pa., followed by the burial ceremony in Saint Denis Cemetery.