Edward Hicks, exemplary Bronx Rotarian, passed away on March 31, 2020 after a long battle with cancer.
He was a native of New York City - both he and his wife, Janice, have lived in The Bronx for thirty-nine years. He was a resident of the Wakefield section of The Bronx. His son, Robert was born in The Bronx.
After high school, Edward went into the United States Navy and Reserves, where he served on a destroyer as an Electronic Technician during the Vietnam Era and the Cold War. His ship monitored the Arctic Sea, North Atlantic and Europe for Russian submarine activity. Edward was honorably discharged in 1972.
After the Navy, Edward attended Bronx Community College and City College of New York (CCNY-CUNY). He received a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) in 1975.
His interest in engineering led him to the IBM Corporation, where he retired after 25 years. He was a Senior Systems Engineer (pre- and post-sale support) with the Marketing and Services Division. In 1994, Edward became an Agent with Prudential Financial in the Bronx, assisting people in planning for their family and business financial security. He retired in 2005, but he was still actively employed in various fields as a semi-retired professional up until the past few years.
In his spare time, he volunteered in various youth programs by presenting topics on personal management and served the Boy Scouts of America as a merit badge counselor. He has also been an avid cyclist and needs to get back to biking.
Edward became a member of The Rotary Club of The Bronx in 1999, and had been an enthusiastic participant and supporter of club activities, especially the Gift-of-Life program and had been a District 7230 Gift-of Life board member for many years. He faithfully met incoming parents and their sick children who had come for GOL surgeries at the airport, visited with them in the hospital and during their recuperations. He had a passion for this service and formed a lasting relationship with several of the children, most notably Chizaram Chibueze of Nigeria who is currently attending college in the U.S.
He has served as an officer: several years as Club Treasurer, Past Club President (2006-2007) and Assistant District Governor of Rotary District 7230 (2007-2008). He has been honored more than five times by The Bronx Rotary Club as a Paul Harris Fellow (named after Rotary International's founder).
Edward is survived by his wife, Janice and their son Robert and his wife, Jennifer and two grandchildren, Kiara and Kayla.