Dennis F. Hickey passed away peacefully on September 21, 2016, surrounded by his family in the home he built for them on the shore of Long Island Sound.
Dennis lived a very full and rich life, but family was always his first priority. He was born on December 10, 1941, in Corinth, New York, the son of William Joseph and Marie Purcell Hickey. Dennis enjoyed working with his father at the International Paper Company and he later devoted 45 years to building a family business, Sonitrol Securities of Bridgeport. Dennis started the company with his wife, B. Joan Hussey Hickey, and his son, Jeffrey L. Hickey, worked with his father for 10 years before taking over as managing director.
Dennis graduated from Tufts University in 1963 with a degree in chemical engineering. While there, he nurtured his love of sports as a successful left-handed quarterback and as captain of the varsity track team. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Dennis served as 1st lieutenant and commanding officer, serving honorably on active duty with the United States Army Air Defense Command and the Army Chemical Corps during the Vietnam War. He served in the Army Reserves while attending Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, earning a DuPont Fellowship and a degree in business administration in 1968.
Dennis met Joan, the love his life, while enjoying après ski with friends on the slopes in Vermont. They traveled the world together, enjoying each other’s company, experiencing other cultures, savoring great food and wine and appreciating countless beautiful sunsets. In winter, Dennis loved to ski and spend time with his family in their home at Sugarbush in Warren, Vermont. Ever the athlete, he also loved his weekly racquetball matches and his basketball games with a loyal group of lifelong friends from Greater Bridgeport.
Dennis will be especially missed by Joan and Jeffrey, as well as his daughter-in-law, Hannah Lintner-Hickey, and his granddaughter, Riley J. Hickey. He is also survived by a brother, Paul Hickey, M.D., and his wife Ann Marie of Dover, Massachusetts; and two sisters, Lori Landis Hickey of Warren, Vermont, and Lynn Hickey Schultz and her husband Tim of Boston, Massachusetts; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dennis also will be missed by his wife’s family, originally from Nahant, Massachusetts, Leland, Heidi and David of Massachusetts, and Holly Hussey of Brooklyn, his neighbors and the many friends who knew him as a kind, generous and gregarious man who cared deeply for others – including his Sonitrol employees and customers. He took great pride in providing local jobs and electronic security systems designed to protect schools, businesses and homes. As owner of one of the first dealerships in New England, Dennis’ hard work contributed to Sonitrol’s growth into a successful, international company.
Dennis also gave generously to many local organizations, volunteering his time to build a playground at the Guilford Center for Children and serving on the Elm Shakespeare Gala Committee and the board of the Mulberry Point Association, where he was treasurer. He especially loved giving advice and running the numbers to help young people buy their first home. Dennis and Joan opened their home every year to welcome summer and their Mulberry Point neighbors, always with great food, a good glass of wine and a big smile. Dennis lived and loved to the fullest, a gift he leaves us all.
The family has planned a memorial celebration for Friday, September 30, 2016. It will begin with a family-only ceremony in the Memorial Garden beside the First Congregational Church, 122 Broad Street, Guilford, Connecticut 06437. Family and friends are invited to the church from 2 to 3 p.m., for a celebration of Dennis’ life officiated by the Rev. Dr. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham.
In lieu of flowers, Dennis and Joan request contributions to a scholarship fund established in Dennis’ memory at the Guilford Center for Children, 47 Stone House Lane, Guilford, Connecticut 06437.
Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, please visit www.GuilfordFuneralHome.com.
