William Croft Bickel ’39

Bill died Sept. 17, 2002, of viral encephalitis in Pittsburgh. We last saw him at our 63rd reunion this past June, with his wife of 55 years, Minnette Duffy; his daughter, Minnette B. Boesel; and his granddaughter, Minnette W. Boesel. His wife, Minnette, a renowned portrait painter, painted Fred Fox '39 with his beloved bicycle, and that portrait now hangs in Firestone Library. While they were at Reunions, Bud Wynne took all three Minnettes to the library to see the portrait.

During WWII, Bill served as a Corsair pilot in the Pacific with the Marine Corps, flying more than 60 missions, retiring as a major with the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal. His corporate career with Gulf Oil spanned 32 years in Tulsa, Atlanta, DC, and other cities. After he retired, he came home to Pittsburgh, where he parlayed his love of the arts and music to become the managing director of Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts.

To Minnette, his daughters Minnette and Susan, and four grandchildren, we extend our sympathy as we say goodbye to our old friend with the words he always wrote to sign off letters to us: "Ever thine '39, Bick."

The Class of 1939