Robert E. Hicks ’59

Bob, affectionately known as “Gaspar” or “Ivy” to many of his classmates, passed away March 12, 2021, in Crestwood, Ky., where he had spent much of his career — 28 years — in the product engineering division of General Electric, ultimately as senior engineer.

Bob came to Princeton from the Peddie School, where he starred on the soccer and wrestling teams. Despite the rigors of his mechanical engineering major, he found time to display his athletic ability as a freshman wrestler and a varsity soccer star, contributing to an Ivy championship in his junior year. He also was a Keyceptor and an active member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. He ate and played bridge at Cannon. Following graduation he spent 90 days, in his words, “playing soldier in the pines of New Jersey at Fort Dix.”

After “too many trips across the Pacific” working with Asian suppliers of air-conditioning products, Bob took early retirement, allowing him and his wife, Lois, whom he had married in 1963, to tour with Elderhostel (now Road Scholar) from Iceland to Australia. He served as an elder and Sunday School teacher with the Peewee Valley Presbyterian Church. He was class treasurer from 1964 to 1969.

Bob is survived by his wife, Lois; son Andrew; brother James; and five grandchildren. His son David predeceased him. We have sent condolences.