DOVER: Edward Skahan Hickey Sr., age 89, of Dover and Nantucket, died on Friday morning, April 7, 2017. He was predeceased in 2010 by his wife of 57 years, Eleanor (Johnson) Hickey.
Born in Boston and raised in Belmont, he was a son of John and Eleanor (Skahan) Hickey. Edward attended Boston Trade High School and Lawrence Academy prior to enlisting in the US Navy during World War II. Trained in basic and diesel engineering, Edward served aboard the destroyer escort USS Dionne and later on the light cruiser USS Portsmouth.
Edward continued his education at MIT, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1953. He was employed with Charles Stark Draper Laboratories in Cambridge throughout his career, specializing in temperature control for navigation and guidance systems. Of his many accomplishments, Edward was most proud of his contributions to the Apollo space program. His skills were critical during the Apollo 13 rescue mission. He communicated directly with the crew to identify and solve problems and was ultimately instrumental in guiding our astronauts safely back to earth. He retired in 1991.
While in Dover, Edward had been a president of the Couples Club and enjoyed playing tennis. A boating enthusiast, Edward was captain of the Shannon and for several years was Vice Commodore at the Charles River Yacht Club.
Edward, fondly known by his 20 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as Papa, is survived by his six children and their spouses, Edward and Valerie Hickey of North Attleboro, Deborah and Thomas O’Malley of Topsfield, Pamela Patrick of Natick, Stephen Hickey of Chestnut Hill, Cynthia and Roger Durocher of Amesbury, and Jennifer Kane and Keith Murphy of Pawtucket, RI. One of eight children, he is also survived by siblings Richard Hickey of Belmont, Eleanor Head of Chicago, IL, and many nieces and nephews.
Papa spent his retirement years with his children and grandchildren who visited him in Nantucket every summer. He enjoyed digging for quahogs, scalloping, fishing, sailing, and golfing. Papa most enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren having philosophical talks, counting money earned from the famous lemonade stand and playing blackjack after dinner.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Hickey Family in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Saturday, April 29th at 9:30AM followed by a Memorial Service beginning at 11:00AM. Burial with military honors will be at Highland Cemetery in Dover Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital Foundation, 57 Prospect Street, Nantucket, MA 02554 (Memorial & Tribute Gifts /Nantucket Cottage Hospital).