William Michael Hickey Sr.
April 17, 1941 – March 1, 2024
William Michael Hickey Sr., of Mount Dora, passed away to a better place on March 1, 2024, after a short illness.
Born in Philadelphia, PA, he moved to Lake County, FL in 1981. A longtime businessman, always a Cross pen in his pocket, Bill started by fixing oil burners as a child in 1949 with his father. He later owned True Value hardware stores in Philadelphia and Conshohocken, PA, and Florence, NJ, then becoming a property developer and real estate appraiser in Lake County for nearly 40 years. He graduated from Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic High in 1959 winning a Ben Franklin business scholarship. He was a Mason with Fritz Lodge 308 in Conshohocken, PA for over 50 years and member of Sons of Amvets, Post 1992 in Eustis, FL.
‘Big Bill’ loved Corvettes, Chris Craft boats, tennis, 50’s/60’s rock and roll, zydeco music, and deep sea fishing. He enjoyed studying the Great San Francisco Earthquake, the building of the Panama Canal and was proud of his Irish heritage. He lived by his credo, ‘the world is your oyster, it’s up to you to find the pearl’.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mary Jane Hickey; son, William Hickey, Jr., (Gladys Nurhidayah) daughters, Jacqueline Schwab (James Schwab), and Juliann Hickey (Clay Scherer); grandchildren, Ayden Anthony Hickey, 1st Lt. James William Schwab Jr. USMC, Jack Colton Schwab, and Jordan Jane Schwab, as well as a brother, Edward Hickey (Geraldine) and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister, Alice Tinneny (John).
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. The family requests any memorials to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 4215 County Road 561, Tavares, FL., 32778.
